Kenyan players dominate day one at East Africa Junior Chess Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 09.01.26. | 20:06
A total of 300 players are taking part in the three day event-the first in the 2026 chess calendar
Kenyan players dominated the first day of the East Africa Junior Chess Championships on Friday at Aga Khan Academy.
In the under-8 category, Zena Kimani was lead with two points after the first day.
Gilani Murithi also had two points, with Uganda’s Alpha Agaba in third position with two points as well.
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Another Ugandan Mborifurali Rwamba was in fourth position also on two points in a very competitive category.
Zeni Yassir, another Kenyan was on the top in the under-12 category after winning his game.
He was followed by Jakov Vishneuskid and Nirwani Hariri who also had one point each.
In the under-10 category, Kenyans also dominated the first top three positions.
Gibran Muriithi Ngengi, Jeremy Aden Duke and Jerome Denge all had two points after the first day.
A total of 300 players are taking part in the three day event-the first in the 2026 chess calendar.
Elsewhere, Kenya has stepped up its preparations ahead of this year’s Intellect Academy Cup to be held in Novokuznetsk, Russia from February 16-23.
The Kenyan team will depart on 14 February for the week-long tournament that brings together some of the best schools in the world.
Moses Kwereba has been named coach of the team and has promised good preparations before the event.
“Together with other top local coaches, we shall ensure that the team has good preparations so that they do well,” he said.
The team will be represented by five players who include: Dylan Wema, Floyd Wasonga, Aaliyah Jasmine, Jadarudo Achieng and Ryan Mutinda.
Apart from Kwereba, the team will be accompanied by two patrons, David Chesaina and Caroline Njenga together with Chess Kenya President Benard Wanjala.
This is the second time that Kenya is taking part in the event after being invited to last year’s tournament.
National champion Jadon Simiyu finished fourth in last year’s event where he was the highest ranked Kenyan.
Apart from Kenya, South Africa is the other African country that has been invited to the event.
