Visa hitch for 18 Kenyans ahead of World Cadets Chess Championships
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 13.11.24. | 15:38
The move leaves 17 players to take part in the event which starts on Friday 15 to Thursday 28 November in Montesilvano
Team Kenya to this year’s World Cadet Chess Championships in Italy has been hit by a major blow after 18 players were denied visas.
The move leaves 17 players to take part in the event which starts on Friday 15 to Thursday 28 November in Montesilvano.
Kenya was set to be represented by one of the largest contingents in the two-week competition after entering 35 players.
Reacting to the move, Chess Kenya president Bernard Wanjala termed it a big blow to the team and said they have launched an appeal to ensure that those denied are able to travel.
“It is a big setback for us coming after we sent a team to the World Youth tournament in Brazil where our players did very well. We were expecting to do even better.
However, we have not given up and have launched an appeal with the help of the Italian Chess Federation and we hope to have it sorted soon so that the players can travel and join the rest,” he said.
Wanjala termed the move to deny Kenyan players visas as unfair as they had provided all required documents.
“We gave proof of accommodation and flights and paid all the required fees. We are really hopeful that the embassy will reconsider so that our players are not disadvantaged in any way.”
The 17 players who will travel are, Prince Yadiel Baraka, Kingsley Nzioki, and Ethan Nderitu in the boys under-8 category. In the under-10 girls category, Ella Kendi, Suzzane Imani Munyendo and Zawadi Mugo will travel. The under-10 boys category will have Dylan Wema and Giovanni Otieno.
Olive Wanjiru, Elie Wangechi and Jasmine Malaika are the girls under-12 representatives.
The boys under-12 representatives have Jadon Dukes, Jibril Gichugu, David Mutane, Kyle Njiru, Ethan Liam, Aideen Wainaina, Luke Nganga and Fidel Kingsley.
More than 200 players representing 35 countries will take part in the event.
