More wins for Kenyan players at World Youth Chess Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 02.11.24. | 14:31
Kenya and South Africa are the only African nations taking part in the World Youth event
Kenyan players picked more positive results in Round Four of the World Youth Chess Championships currently ongoing in Brazil.
Francis Njenga from Juja St. Peter Primary School finally picked his first win in the boys under-14 category.
Njenga rated 1455 beat highly rated Saa Manriquez Gasper from China and with the victory moved up in the standings.
Two other Kenyans also featuring in this category, Wesley Gitau and Jabu Kariuki are still waiting for their first wins after losing to Brazillian opponents on Friday.
Gitau also a student at Juja St.Peter School went down to Dhom Lemos while his counterpart lost to Coutinho Lucas.
National under-14 champion Zuri Kaloki is now the highest-ranked Kenyan after she picked her second win in a row.
Kaloki beat Danker Nikole from Brazil to maintain her positive run in the tournament.
Valma Njoki from Kenya drew against Trentini Agata from Brazil picking her first positive result in the 13-day tournament.
Two other Kenyan players in this category, Natalie Watitu and Lisa Wanjiru lost their matches to Brazilian opponents. Watitu went down to Ramos Fernanda while Wanjiru lost to Baratieri Maria.
In the under-16 category, Kenyan players found the going tough. First Mathenge Gichuga went down to Atiencia Penaloza from Ecuador before Daniel Baraka Simiyu lost to Ricouz Vasquez from Chile.
After picking his first win on Thursday, national junior champion Hawi Kaloki failed to match highly rated Weiden Hoffer from Germany as he picked his third loss in the tournament.
Kenya and South Africa are the only African nations taking part in the World Youth event. A total of 46 countries are taking part in the event.
Countries from Eastern Europe are the majority followed by Central America. On Thursday 14 November, Kenya will send 35 players to the World Cadet Youth Chess Championships to be held in Italy.
This will be the fourth international tournament that Kenyan players will be going to this year.
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