A contingent of ten Chess players will be flying the Kenyan flag at the Africa Individual Chess Championships that will be held in Malawi.
Chess Kenya selected a formidable team that will raise the Kenyan flag in the one-week long championships that starts on Monday 17th to 27th in the West African nation.
Chess President Bernard Wanjala, in a statement said in a statement that despite failing to secure team sponsorship, the players are ready for the championships.
“We have engaged several corporates but we were not successful due to short notice. Given current COVID-19 pandemic, the support from Ministry of Sports for any sports travel activity is at bare minimum and after numerous tireless efforts in engagement and persuasion, we were able to secure support for chess,” read the statement from Wanjala.
Wanjala said the team has been undergoing intensive training under isolation on a full board basis until departure.
“The first priority for team selection was based on standings of Final phase of Olympiad Qualifiers (last OTB event held). Based on advice of head of Women and special needs committee, three slots were allocated to ladies and two to Persons Living with Disabilities based on ranking of standings of Kenya national Chess Championship for persons living with disabilities in 2019. While preferred case was to select a man and a woman, the ladies contacted (priority to top 4) were either unable to travel or had no passport thus ended up with top two in the open,” explained Wanjala.
However, the team will not travel with top players like Ben Nguku, Ricky Sang, Gohil Mehul, Philip Singe and Madelta Glenda.
The traveling team include Joseph Methu, Jackson Kamau, Ben Magana, Martin Njoroge and Brian Adorwa for men while Joyce Nyaruai will lead women category alongside Lucy Wanjiru and Sasha Mongeli.
Team Kenya for Africa Individual championships
Men
- Joseph Methu
- Jackson Kamau
- Ben Magana
- Martin Njoroge
- Brian Adorwa
Ladies
- Joyce Nyaruai
- Lucy Wanjiru
- Sasha Mongeli
People Living with Disabilities (PLWD)
- Sadam Ali( National Champion for PLWD)
- Alfred Simiyu (Runners up for PLWD)