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
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.
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
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
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
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