Kenyan players dominate as Africa Youth Chess Championships enters round six
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 11.12.25. | 21:19
Kenya’s strongest showing so far is in the girls under-14 category with three of them dominating
As the Africa Youth Chess Championships enters round six, a good number of Kenyan players remain in contention for medals.
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In the under-12 girls’ category, former African champion Winnie Kaburo is the highest-ranked Kenyan after she picked four points out of the five matches she played.
Also on four points is Wanjiru Gichugu, with the two poised to finish in the medal bracket should they maintain their good run.
Kenya’s strongest showing so far is in the girls under-14 category with three of them dominating.
WCM Elizabeth Cassidy Maina has delivered a perfect five points, dominating her field as the clear leader.
Close behind her is another Kenyan Shukri Shakirah (4.5/5) sits in second place, while Fantalis Lucy Nduta (4/5) maintains her position among the top contenders. Their combined performance highlights Kenya’s depth in this competitive category.
The Kenyan boys are also dominating in their various categories, with former African champion Nathaniel Manyeki currently at the top of the under-10 category with 4.5 points out of five matches.
He is followed by Rotich Darrien (4/5), who remains in close medal contention, and Adriel Baraka (3.5/5), who has shown marked improvement with strong tactical play.
The U12 Open team is also performing strongly, with Danson Ryan Kimani (4/5) and Jacob Mandela (4/5) both positioned near the top of the standings. Their consistent play has put Kenya in a competitive position as the battles intensify after the rest day.
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In the U14 Open, Kenya demonstrates a strong presence with Warimwe David James (4.5/5) jointly leading the category. He remains a key medal contender alongside Waweru Davidson (4/5) and Wayne Joe Njarumi (4/5), both of whom are well placed within the top ranks.
In the U8 girls section, Jayne Awuor leads the Kenyan group with three points, displaying impressive resilience and growth. Shujaa Victoria Emmanuel has also secured a win and continues to benefit from valuable continental experience in her debut event.
The U10 girls category has seen a strong push from Breetalizah Amanda (4/5), who sits comfortably in the top 10 and remains one of Kenya’s brightest young prospects.
Chepkoiwo Patience (3/5) and Shirleen Njoki (2/5) earned important points in the early rounds, while the rest of the team remained competitive and motivated heading into Round 6.
