Kisumu students reign supreme in Kenya National Youth Chess Championships

Kisumu students dominated the lower categories of the Kenya National Youth Chess Championships, which ended on Wednesday at Kisii School.

Breetaliza Becca Amanda from Mudasa Academy in Kisumu emerged as the new girls under-8 champion after collecting maximum points. Floyd Wasonga from Saphire School was crowned the new boys under-10 champion, also collecting eight points. Manyaki Nathaniel from Plainsview Primary School successfully defended his boys under-8 title after collecting eight points, while his sister Winnie Kaburo won the under-10 girls category with maximum points.

The second day of the tournament saw several upsets. Under-8 favorite Ariella Tello from Kinderstart School lost to Amelia Kerubo of Beacon of Hope School, while in the boys under-10 category, Eli Osidiana of Riara Springs Academy was held to a draw by little-known Shedrick Nyadida from Thamsingi School Academy. The biggest upset of the day was Robert Macligeyo's loss to Gideon Gekonge from St. Patrick's Iten in the under-18 category. Macligeyo, who is the highest-rated Kenyan player at 2027 and was joint third in the 2022 Africa Junior Chess Championships held last year in Algeria, suffered a defeat that was unexpected.

In other matches, Vitalizer Amanda of Midas's Academy in Kisumu maintained her lead on a tiebreaker with five points out of five with two other players in under-8. In the under-12 category, undefeated Gawson Otieno of Mudasa Academy shocked internationally rated Jeremiah Kagambi on board 2. In the U14 girls category, WCM Janki Shah of Oshwal Academy Junior High Nairobi was beaten by little-known Tracy Njoki.

Meanwhile, Janki's twin sister, WCM Janvi Shah, lost to little-known, unrated Kayla Gitau of Thika Road Christian School, marking Janki's second upset during this event. Finally, Ganeev Gahir of Oshwal Academy, the second seed, was upset by unrated Jerrel Patasi of Friends School Kamusinga in the under-16 category.

Top seeds dominate first round of 2023 Kenya National Youth and Cadet Chess Championship