Manyeki, Cassidy win gold, bronze in concluded Africa Youth Chess Championships

Kenya’s Nathaniel Manyeki is the new Under-8 Open African champion after winning all his games in this year’s Africa Youth Chess Championships that ended on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.

Manyeki collected nine out of nine points, downing six Egyptians to become the first Kenyan ever to win gold in this category.

He won his last game against Yehia Diaa from Egypt on Friday morning to be assured of a gold medal.

Prior to that, he had won against Islam Eisayed Yehia, Salah Yassin, Mohammed Fouad Yahi, Mohammed Saleh Ali and Dwidar Youssef all from Egypt.

Manyeki’s performance replicated his sister’s - Winnie Kaburo - who also won gold during the same event last year in Zambia also after winning all her games.

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Kenya also won a bronze medal in the girls under-12 category, where Kitale based Elizabeth Cassidy managed third position after winning her last game against Egypt’s Raghad Ahmed Gaber.

For his win, Manyeki has earned personal rights to play at next year’s World Youth Chess Championships where he will be fully sponsored by the world chess body Fide.

Chess Kenya President Bernard Wanjala congratulated Manyeki for his performance and said he hopes it will inspire other up and coming players.

“We are very proud of his performance and determination especially against the hosts. He was not intimidated at all, and we hope to support him in other future events,” he said.

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Egypt finished at the top of the pile with seven gold medals, with Kenya taking fourth position out of 20 countries that took part in the eight-day event.

Kenya sent a total of 120 persons with 77 of them being players.

The first batch of the national team arrives at 1415 hrs on Saturday.