"My opponent left a glass of whisky 'en prise' and I took it 'en passant". - Henry Blackburne | SINCE 2007

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Kenya Open 2016

Ben Nguku Wins, big pictorial report.

Photos courtesy of Kim Bhari Nairobi Chess Club 

By Edwin Korir


Clouds of uncertainty were hanging over the Kenya open chess tournament at Ruaraka over the Easter weekend. Two chess Kenya rival tournaments were scheduled to take place adjacent to each other; at KCB club and Stima club. Ultimately the venue with the boards, the clocks and more players hosted the tournament. So when the games begun without some top dogs it seemed the Kenya open was a free for all affair.



Ben Nguku had other ideas though; So much for the theory that this was going to be a weekend for peter gilruth and Mehul Gohil to measure themselves against the other runs of Kenyan chess. They may as well have waved a white flag from the moment Nguku landed in the team-sheet as he tormented the opposition to such an extent that he seemed invisible.


Starting off with a draw in a state no one could surely play chess, Nguku picked one win after the other culminating in a 7/8 score to win the Kenya open. His list of casualties included Morell Omondi, Ronald Bolo, Vasanth Ramesh, CM Wachira Wachania, Mehul Gohil and James Muchai. By the end, it was a sobering reminder for new Kenyan chess players that when it comes to the hierarchy of chess in Kenya the old school still sit atop the table. 


PICTORIAL; Photos From Nairobi Chess Club 





Deep Thought

Nice move


Lawrence Kagambi left and Mehul Gohil faced off in the last round. Mehul won


The playing hall at KCB club was nice and comfortable.


The entarance to KCB 'lions den'.


Ricky sang, Victor Ngani and Moses Andiwoh converse


Deep Thinking

 Jane Wambugu on her way to winning the Kenya Open Ladies title.


Ricky Sang


The Ladies section


Kenyan Chess queens


Moses andiwoh in one of his games


The youngsters were there too.


The chess pieces used in the event were slightly smaller than the normal tournament pieces.


Blinfold thinking


Lawrence Kagambi had a great tournament.


Ben Nguku was simply unstoppable


This teacher had brought some of his students to play.


Acrobatics


Deep Focus


This players beards was a head turner.


Trying to remember home prep


Is that an alien on his head?


What next


Post Game Analysis


What is going on?


One of the standout perfomance of the tournament was by  Wilson opondo. He ended the tournament with a 5/8 score.


One of the many 12 year olds around.


'Duke' was the tournament director/arbiter.


John Mukabi the interim secretary general .


You were saying


What is my next move


Analysis tables


One of the longest games of the tournament.


 Panchol 'Panadol' Madol. Special mention should be given to panchol, this guy should be playing for kenya! He scored 6.5/8 to tie with Peter Gilruth for second. 



May the games begin


Chess beauties.


Brian Toboso scored 6/8 to come in third


The Lions Den


young vs old


A number of juniors participated.



This boy was the talk of round 1. He held the higly rated peter gilruth for a long, long time


Akili ni ???


Panadol


What was that


Should i play d4 or c4.


The foundation stone for KCB Club.


Nf3 slav


Playing in her first tournament this lady travelled all the way from kisumu.


Jane Wambugu


Fianchetto


 Ben Nguku on his way to winning


Another strong performer


Jacob Onditi is a jovial and great man to play with. In this Open, Onditi gave out 1000 ksh to anyone who beat him.


think


Joseph Methu


More chess queens....


.... and kings.


Peter Gilruth Scored 6.5/8 to tie for second.


He scored a draw against the eventual winner.


Wachira Wachania scored 5/6


All the way from eldoret komen enjoyed his easter





Another strong junior player.


Lwaba relaxing


Roland Bolo

 Great


And Jesus resurrected


Another strong performer



Kim Bahri who took this photos.




George Muchai



Yours truly in deep thought. I ended with 4.5/5



Maigua



Brian Mmata



They were all here



The final cross table of top 20 players.