
Kenya sends team to Madagascar for Africa Games qualifiers
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 09.01.24. | 19:35
National women's champion Sasha Mongeli has been dropped from the team since she has already qualified for the Games
The Kenya senior chess team is among ten countries that will take part in this year’s Zone 4.2 championships that start on 9 January.
The team of ten players left the country on Tuesday for the January 9-20 event which will be used as qualifiers for this year’s Africa games.
Recently crowned national champion Joseph Methu will lead a strong team of five men while Joyce Nyaruai the former national ladies champion leads a team of five ladies.
Apart from Methu, also in the Kenyan men's team is Elvis Likoko who finished runners-up during the national championships, Victor Ngani, Ben Magana and Brian Toboso.
The women's team has apart from Nyaruai, Madelta Glenda who is a former world amateur champion, Julie Mutisya who finished third at the recently concluded national championships, and school girls Nelvin Makungu and Joy Jelagat.
Chess Kenya Secretary General John Mukabi said the zonal event is an important one in helping to help the team qualify for the African games.
“This is the first event for our senior team in more than one year and it comes at a very important time when we are fighting to qualify for the African games. We have a strong team and remain confident to do well,” he said.
He said the national women's champion Sasha Mongeli has been dropped from the team since she has already qualified for the All-Africa games.
Elsewhere, the East Africa Junior Championships will open the new season. The three-day event is scheduled to be held at Aga Khan Academy from January 12-14,2024.
According to chief arbiter Moses Maina, the event will go a long way to help the young players earn ratings.
“We are looking forward to attracting top junior players from the region and it is a great opportunity for our players to improve their ratings,” he said.













