Kenyan Chess take a "Big Leap"

Kenyan Chess continues to grow over the year and we now have 4 proper clubs and these include Nairobi Chess Club (established in 1958), Mombasa Chess Club, Westlands Chess Club and Bungoma Chess Club.

After many years Nairobi Chess Club finally unveiled its new logo.

Nairobi Chess Club old logo
which has been in use
for almost 30 years.

Nairobi Chess Club new logo

54th Nairobi Chess Club Championship - Update

Tournament Report

54^th  Nairobi Chess Club Championship

18^th & 19^th  August 2012

Braeburn School

Nairobi

The 54^th Nairobi Chess Club Championship was a resounding success.  The event was attended by;

·         54 players

·         8 ladies

·         5 juniors

·         Ben Magana the reigning 53^rd Champion

·         3 Ugandans Bob Bibasa, Arthur Ssegwanyi  (trip funded by sponsor Rodger Adai)

·         Ivy Amoko (trip funded by Nairobi Chess Club)

·         Robert Nyongesa from Bungoma(trip partly funded by Nairobi Chess Club

·         Emmanuel Soma from Eldoret (trip partly funded by Nairobi Chess Club)

The full list of players is provided on AppendixI I.

The main sponsor of the event was ARM Engineering Ltd a company owned by chess enthusiast Rodger Adai who funded the event to the tune of KShs 40,000.

The prize fund was as follows;

Winner	KShs 7,500 + trophy	Top lady	KShs 3,000 + trophy	To Challenger	KShs 2,000 + trophy
Runners up	KShs 5,000 + trophy	2nd lady	KShs 2,000  + trophy	2nd Challenger	KSsh 1,000 + trophy
2nd Runners up	KShs 3,500 + trophy	3rd lady	KShs 1,000 + trophy	3rd Challenger	KShs 500 + trophy
3rd Runners up	KShs 2,500 + trophy	Top Junior	KShs 2,000 + trophy	Top Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics	KShs 2,000 plus trophy
4th Runners up	KShs 1,500 + trophy	2nd Junior	KShs 1,000 + trophy
		3rd Junior	KShs 500 + trophy	2nd Universities, Colleges, Polytechnics	KShs 1,000 plus trophy

Supplementary prizes were added to the main prize fund by Aslam Adam of UK who provided the following incentives;

1)            If there is a clear winner, he will be awarded a further 2,500/=

2)            If the clear winner is undefeated in the tourney, another 2,500/=

3)            If the clear winner wins all his games, then a bonus of 10,000/= , the first 2 will not apply.

Additionally if any player wins all his games with the black pieces, a bonus of 5,000/= - mind you there could be a tie here.

Lastly, if the winner is not an Olympian (both Kenya and Uganda), he will get a bonus of 5,000/=, irrespective of above.

The arbiter for the event was Moses Andiwo of Nakuru.

The venue used was the spacious Senior School Dining Hall at Braeburn School, Gitanga Road, Nairobi.

All cash prizes and trophies were paid out.  The only prize that was not given out was the University/Colleges/Poly 2^nd prize as there was no winner.

All chess equipment and use of computer/printer was provided by Kim Bhari free of cost.

Other Comments;

This event generated enormous publicity in cyberspace name Facebook & Twitter.

A number of universities & colleges were on holiday and hence were not in a position to send a team.

Kishan Iyengar has  donated KShs 5,0000 to Nairobi Chess Club to be used to fund future events.

Peter Gilruth is declared the 54^th Nairobi Chess Club Champion.  Peter is the current Vice-Chairman of the Club.

In future Nairobi Chess Club will continue to sponsor players from out of Nairobi to come and take part in our events in an effort to promote the game in other regions of the country.

All players who participated in the event are eligible to use our club facility at Goan Gymkhana Club every Saturday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm.  Those who wish to attend our forthcoming AGM are request to pay the additional KShs 500 to full fill all membership requirements.

We presented 10 pocket chess sets to various participants using a simple lottery system.  These sets had been sent to us by our chess supporter Aslam Adam of UK.

Financial Summary

Details of the financial summary of this event are provided in Appendix I.

The event generated a modest loss of KShs 7,100 which will be covered by Kim Bhari.

Kim Bhari

Nairobi Chess Club

Chairman

54th Nairobi Chess Club Championship
Financial Summary
Entry Fee		KShs	No	KShs
Gold Membership		6,000	4	1,500
Silver Membership		50,000	50	1,000
		56,000
Rodger Adai		40,000
Aslam Adam		5,000
Total Income		101,000
Expenses
Cash Prizes (see below)		40,000
Venue Hire		20,000
Trophies		22,100
Travel costs for Ugandan players		18,000
Travel costs for other Kenyan players		1,600
Arbitration		4,000
Other Admin		2,400
Total expenses		108,100
Deficit		(7,100)
Cash Prizes	Category
Peter Gilruth	Open 1st & 2nd	6,250
Bob Bibasa	Open 1st & 2nd	6,250
Mowlid Ahmed	3rd,4th & 5th	2,500
Ben Magana	3rd,4th & 5th	2,500
Brian Adorwa	3rd,4th & 5th	2,500
Sharanya Iyengar	Ladies 1st	3,000
Ivy Amoko	Ladies 2nd	1,500
Gloria Jumba	Ladies 3rd	1,500
Ritvik Penyala	Juniors 1st	1,500
Hardiv Karania	Juniors 2nd	1,500
Saloni Karania	Juniors 3rd	500
Hussein Farah	Challengers 1st	2,000
Issa Kassim	Challengers 2nd	1,000
George Nyagah	Challengers 3rd	500
Martin Oyamo	Winning all games with Black	2,500
Emmanuel Soma	Winning all games with Black	2,500
Strathmore	University	2,000
Total cash prizes		40,000

Place|Name                     |Feder|Rtg |Loc|Score|M-Buch.|Buch.|Progr.

 1-2 |Peter Gilruth,           |     |2190|   |6    |   23.0| 30.0|  26.0

     |Bob Bibasa,              |     |2000|   |6    |   22.5| 31.0|  25.0

 3-5 |Mowlid Ahmed Daud,       |     |1900|   |5.5  |   23.5| 33.5|  24.5

     |Ben Magana,              |     |2185|   |5.5  |   22.5| 30.0|  23.5

     |Brian Kadenge,           |     |1944|   |5.5  |   20.0| 27.5|  21.5

6-10 |Arthur Ssegwanyi,        |     |2000|   |5    |   22.5| 30.5|  22.0

     |Ricky Sang,              |     |2002|   |5    |   21.5| 29.0|  17.0

     |Hussein Farah,           |     |1900|   |5    |   18.5| 27.0|  21.0

     |Martin Oyamo,            |     |1934|   |5    |   18.0| 25.0|  20.0

     |Isse Kassim,             |     |1900|   |5    |   17.5| 25.0|  16.0

11-14|George Nyagah,           |     |1900|   |4.5  |   20.0| 27.0|  19.5

     |Chahindi Mbiu,           |     |1884|   |4.5  |   19.5| 29.0|  17.0

     |Kevin Riungu,            |     |1976|   |4.5  |   19.5| 27.5|  18.5

     |Clement Miheso,          |     |1974|   |4.5  |   17.0| 24.5|  14.5

15-23|Bryan Toboso,            |     |2039|   |4    |   23.5| 33.0|  20.0

     |Wangombe Mugo,           |     |2059|   |4    |   22.5| 31.0|  20.0

     |Brian Obilo,             |     |1900|   |4    |   19.0| 26.5|  19.0

     |Wachira Wachania,        |     |2025|   |4    |   18.5| 26.0|  15.0

     |Collins Young,           |     |2038|   |4    |   18.5| 25.5|  19.0

     |Ed Oluoch,               |     |2023|   |4    |   17.0| 24.5|  17.5

     |Warren Pollock,          |     |1900|   |4    |   14.5| 21.0|  12.0

     |Sharanya Iyengar (L),    |     |1890|   |4    |   14.5| 20.0|  11.5

     |Emmaneul Soma,           |     |1900|   |4    |   14.0| 19.5|  13.0

24-29|James Muchai,            |     |2033|   |3.5  |   19.5| 28.0|  16.5

     |Willem Simons,           |     |1900|   |3.5  |   19.5| 25.5|  15.5

     |Ivy Amoko (L),           |     |1900|   |3.5  |   18.5| 25.0|  15.5

     |Hesbon Omanjo,           |     |1976|   |3.5  |   17.0| 24.0|  14.5

     |Gloria Jumba (L),        |     |1946|   |3.5  |   16.0| 23.0|  13.5

     |Humphrey Nyongesa,       |     |1900|   |3.5  |   12.5| 17.5|   9.0

30-38|Thomas Mghendi,          |     |1993|   |3    |   20.0| 28.0|  15.0

     |Vincent Ngeno,           |     |2038|   |3    |   19.5| 27.5|  14.0

     |Edward Bii,              |     |1900|   |3    |   18.5| 25.5|  13.0

     |Benard Wanjala,          |     |2026|   |3    |   18.0| 26.0|  12.0

     |Isabelle Asiema (L),     |     |1884|   |3    |   18.0| 25.0|   9.0

     |Kim Bhari,               |     |1900|   |3    |   16.5| 22.5|  11.0

     |Ritvik Penyala (J),      |     |1999|   |3    |   16.5| 22.5|  10.0

     |Hardiv Karania (J),      |     |1980|   |3    |   15.5| 22.5|  11.0

     |Rose Nafula Chemiat (L), |     |1900|   |3    |   12.5| 17.0|  10.0

39-42|Saloni Karania (J),      |     |1842|   |2.5  |   18.5| 25.0|  10.5

     |Njuru Mwangi,            |     |1900|   |2.5  |   17.5| 25.0|   9.5

     |Tony Mutua,              |     |1900|   |2.5  |   17.5| 24.5|  13.5

     |Naftali Wachira,         |     |1994|   |2.5  |   16.0| 23.0|  12.5

43-46|Mwikali Daphne (L),      |     |1900|   |2    |   17.0| 23.0|   9.0

     |Arphaxade Sifuna,        |     |1900|   |2    |   14.5| 21.0|  10.0

     |Kangethe Waruhiu (J),    |     |1900|   |2    |   14.0| 19.0|   7.0

     |Ian Odhiambo,            |     |2002|   |2    |    7.0| 14.0|   7.0

47-49|Jacktone Mony,           |     |2024|   |1.5  |   18.0| 25.0|   9.5

     |Darshan Shah (J),        |     |1900|   |1.5  |   13.0| 20.0|   4.0

     |Rehema Kimulu (L),       |     |1857|   |1.5  |   11.5| 17.0|   2.5

50-51|Carlos Agengo,           |     |1900|   |1    |   14.0| 21.5|   4.0

     |Simon Mariga,            |     |1900|   |1    |    8.0| 13.5|   3.0

52-54|Benard Miheso,           |     |1900|   |0    |    7.0|  7.0|   0.0

     |George Irungu,           |     |1900|   |0    |    6.5| 11.5|   0.0

     |Sameul Nyonga,           |     |1900|   |0    |    6.0|  6.0|   0.0

Clement Miheso in blue

Sharanya Iyengar

Bob Bibasa from Uganda

Mowlid Daud Ahmed in brown gets his 3rd prize from Dr Ngani

Bob Bibasa receives his Runners Up prize

54th Nairobi Chess Club Champion Peter Gilruth in red, Kim Bhari Chairman in blue

View of the playing hall

4th Fizza Gorilla Blitz Championship

The 4th edition of the Fizza Gorilla Blitz was held on 22nd July 2012 at the Goan Gymkhana Club.  The total prize fund was KShs 30,000 (KShs 20,000 sponsored by Aslam Adam of UK and KShs 10,000 from Mehul Gohil who was one of the participants.  This contestants were preselected for this event and are amongst the best Blitzer's in Kenya.

1. Githinji Hinga 12
2. Mehul Gohil 11
3. Martin Gateri 7.5

4. George Nderitu 7
5. Wangombe Mugo 6
6. Martin Oyamo 5.5
7. Victor Ngani 3.5
8. George Mwangi 3.5

Githinji Hinga walked away with KShs 15,000 for his effort. Congratulations for a splendid performance.

Here are some photos from that event.

Mehul Gohil (left) takes on Wangombe Mugo

Dr Victor Ngani (left) takes on veteran Martin Oyamo

George Nderitu (left) takes on winner Githinji Hinga

54th Nairobi Chess Club Championship

Nairobi Chess Club which is the oldest chess club in Kenya (formed in 1958) has announced that the 54th edition of the Championship will be held on 18th & 19th August 2012 at the Braeburn School, Gitanga Road, Nairobi.

Last years event attracted a total of 42 players and this year the organisers are expecting a bumper entry of over 100.

For the second year running Rodger Adai (proprietor of ARM Engineering) has sponsored this event.

The defending champion is Ben Magana.

Ben Magana (left) receives his trophy from Mr Ramesh after winning the 53th Nairobi Chess Club Championship

Poster for the 54th edition