The national team before leaving for algiers
BEN MAGANA
With a FIDE rating of 2151 and a local rating of 2308, ben magana is the strongest kenyan player currently. The reigning kenya national chess champion, magana has participated in many olympiads. He is the Kenya Open 2000 chess champion. This seemingly timid player has the precision and cold ruthlessness of a machine while on attacking mode. He has played in a number of countries namely Egypt, Turkey and Slovenia. In the chess Olympiad held in Istanbul Turkey he achieved an ELO Rating of 2200.All kenyan hopes will be resting on his shoulders. Although he will play very strong players in board 1 including GM and IM, there was a rumour that the kenyan team may play their strongest players(Magana and Nguku) in lower boards to increase medal prospects.
BEN NGUKU
Nguku and magana
His best moment was in the 2004 olympiad in spain where he managed the best score by any kenyan player in the tournament. A versatile and attacking player, Nguku has been kenya number one a number of times. "He has a sharp style despite his sometimes conservative choice of openings" is what nigel short had to say about him.
AKELLO ATWOLI
What can be more diffrent, his father is the most talkative man around while akello is so silent and shy. This being his first time representing kenya his perfomance will really be a gauge of things to come.
STEVE OUMA
The question in everbodys mind is, "are you fit to wear that kenyan shirt". Oumas inclusion in the team was so controversial it clouded other aspects of the team. In my own opinion ouma should not be anywhere near algiers. At the expense of Obut, ouma was chosen because he had "better medal prospects". If we are talking about medal prospects then why not choose Ateka or Kanegeni who are a million times stronger than ouma? I think his strength of play will be clearly exposed in algiers
5 comments:
shame shame shame !!!!!!!
what business does a weak chess player (steve ouma) have representing the country .
chess kenya: please style up.
we will request hon. Kamanda to do a clean up of chess kenya.
does fide have rules as regards tournament qualifiers-it should do something as regards chess kenya
I really wonder what Ouma is doing in algiers. But that is chess kenya wisdom
Wachania says,
Honestly I dont know why we keep going in circles as pertains to the team selection.I feel very hurt when a player is locked out and his place given to a politically correct player,we need to put a clause in the constitution of chesskenya saying no one has the right to tamper with the team once the eliminations are done.Its case closed.If you dont qualify work hard and better luck next time but we will kill competition if we continue like this.I will keep away from future eliminations if this continues.
Why send a weak rat to algiers!!!!!shame on CK
Chebii says,
Its so hurting when one is chosen politically instead of prowess.
Am a chess enthusiast,may all chess players stand up and shout on rooftops about this.
'Before any end game gods have placed the middle but in Kenya Satan has placed the winner'
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