ALL AFRICAN GAMES DAY 8

The All African Games are currently taking place in Mozambique. The Kenyan team is composed of a variety of disciplines one of them being chess. Mehul Gohil who is part of the Kenyan chess team has been providing the Kenya chess forum with regular updates.

BY MEHUL GOHIL

Hi Guys,

The men beat Ghana 4-0 with Magnum finally getting onto the scoreboard
in style via a magnumish K-side attack.

However, the best result of the day was when Isabell and Gwen got
draws against No.1 seed Egypt. This match was dramatic with all the
antics you could hope for in a chess match. First up, Isabella
unexpectedly unleashed a combo that saw her get a winning position.
The Egypt ladies coach could not control himself and lost it. After
all Isabella was about to crush a WGM. So the coach did something
illegal by proposing a draw on behalf of the player!!!!! This without
the player having any idea of offering it herself. Well, what happened
next was hollywoodish as Isabella buckled under the psychological
pressure and took the draw!!! I was livid and went up to the Nigerian
arbiter who had left a half-baked assistant in charge. However, I was
also responsible for my own game and let it go. I won my game and then
went to check Gwen's game which was the last one on. A bunch of us
Kenyans got stunned as Gwen's highly rated player buckled under time
pressure and gave Gwen a completely won position. What do you know,
that bloody coach again pulled a stunt and out of nowhere OFFERED gwen
a draw!!!!! This time Johnny was there and he jumped in like a
stuntman and there was almost a commotion/WWF when the Nigerian
arbiter stepped in just in time in basically told the Egypt coach to F
off. Nenow...the Egyptian men GM's swarmed to where the action was and
they were busy looking at the game. Apparently they absolutely hated
it that their top lady was going down. Kina GM El Ghindy, IM Shoker
and Co were left scratching their heads...Gwen must have been under
immense pressure and when offered a draw this time by the opponent
herself took it. She should have just crushed that Egyptian mamaboga.

Anyways, that was simply a HUGE result for the ladies. Getting two
draws against a WGM infested team that is also the seed one of the
event is nothing short of earth shattering. The team is now charged
with positive emotions.

Tomorrow is another tough day.