2015 Daystar University Chess Open

The gods of Ukambani must surely not love me!  Reason?  Well listen to the story below.

The 4th edition of this fantastic event organised by Daystar University at their Athi River Campus is set for the weekend of 26th & 27th September 2015.  This is one of Kenya’s premier chess events and will attract a huge crowd which will include our Ugandan brothers and sisters.

Poster for the event

However for this event this is how I feel and can only be illustrated by a cartoon!

Grrrrr - why the clash!

Not sure how many of you will recognise my poor attempt to draw Calvin from one of my all time favorite comics – Calvin & Hobbes.  The comic is about a naughty boy named Calvin who has a stuffed tiger called Hobbes.  Calvin’s make believe world is that Hobbes is a real tiger and it is just hilarious.  In some comic panel when Calvin is alone with Hobbes who is depicted as a tiger.  When others appear Hobbes is a stuffed tiger.  If you are depressed then Calvin & Hobbes is for you. http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes

Back to the story – Why am I upset.  For the 3^rd year in a row I will have to miss this event due to the fact that the 2015 Concours d’Elegance is going to be held on 27^th September 2015.  For 3 years in a row the two important events have clashed.   Why?

The Concours d’Elegance is a great event organized by the Alfa Romeo Club of Kenya.  This is the place where you will see beautiful cars and meet many old friends.  It is a fun day out of the house and once again I think I am going to ditch my beloved game of chess and go for this event.  I bring you some photos of the 2014 event just to give you a taste of what you will see.

Fine cars

And more cars

 

Rover that was sold for about KES 1.3 million

Alfa Romeo Montreal

My all time favorite car - Porsche 911

Just too cool

The ramp for the public to see

Mercedes SLC from DT Dobie

Gayling May's fine Alfa Romeo

Sati Gata-aura's winner

Fine bikes on display

Last year’s edition was interesting as there was a family from Argentina (Mr Herman & Mrs Candelaria Zapp) who are travelling around the world in a 1928 Graham-Paige car. Yes you read correctly – A car built in 1928 and with 4 kids all born on the journey!  

 

Now you know what a 1928 Graham-Paige looks like!

Mr & Mrs Zapp with a fan

Cover of their book

Back of the book

 This brings me to another interesting family who have  a chess connection.  Marcus & Mavis Mann have been travelling around the world with their 5 kids having spent some time in Nairobi, Kenya.  I met them at the 2015 Millionaires Chess Open held during at the KICC Hall where three of their kids were playing.  You can check out their blog on https://manns7worldtour.wordpress.com/.

The charming Manns family at the KICC, Nairobi

Sorry back to chess once again.  Daystar University have been incredible supporters of chess over the past 5 years and I am absolutely delighted that their tradition goes on.  The only other university that organises  chess tournaments is Strathmore University.   Others like Kenyatta University support chess by participating in the Chess League and by hosting events on a gratis basis.   

I wish the other 40 or so universities in Kenya could come out and support chess in an effort to promote the game.

Daystar University promoted their 2014 with a promotional video which was a first for Kenya and is very impressive.  You can check out the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkfMTnKxWVM

Last year’s event attracted a total of 60 participants and the winner was current Chess Kenya Chairman Githinji Hinga who seems very keen to defend his title.

Githinji Hinga in action.