International Chess Federation (FIDE) rewarded Kenyan Judith Kiragu Mwashe as the Outstanding Chess Organizer in a ceremony held last week in Chennai, India.
Kiragu became the first Kenyan to receive the award as the top world ranked Chess award by FIDE in recognizing personalities/ women who have made a good contribution towards chess as a sport.
“This was a big event for me. As a Chess player and organizer, I was only doing my work but someone somewhere was watching on what I was doing hence getting such a big recognition not just in Africa but the rest of the world,” said Kiragu.
Kiragu was nominated by Chess Kenya for the award and her dream came to pass.
“When I was asked to send my Curriculum Vitae, I did not know that fruits will be coming later. With the thirteen categories at the award ceremony, I was the only Kenyan to have won, showing how am dedicated to the growth of the sport in the country, continent and at the global stage,” she said.
Chess Kenya president Bernard Wanjala congratulated Kiragu for her outstanding performance and promoting the sport.
“This is a great move for FIDE to recognize one of us. The sport is growing and with such awards, it will motivate other women to come on board in different ways. It also motivates young players in the country,” said Wanjala adding that the award will encourage ladies willing to engage in organizing an event, either being a player or an official.
Wanjala said that Kiragu has organized my Chess meetings across the country urging women to be active in sports.
“many works in sports are left to men this is an encouragement to women across the board. In Kenya, she is the most active Chess organizer and very consisted with her work. No one can pass her achievements,” he added.
However, the two, Kiragu and Wanjala battled for the Chess Kenya presidency where the later retained his seat during elections held on 13th February 2022.
Other awards winners were
Outstanding ‘game changer’ (social project leader, role model, etc.)
Jennifer Shahade
Susan Namangale (Africa)
Tris-Ann Richards (Americas)
G.S.Wijesuriya Mrs. (Asia)
Nona Gaprindashvili (Europe)
Outstanding chess administrator
Sonja Johnson
Christiana Ashley (Africa)
Alejandra Beatriz Zavala Galindo (Americas)
Medina Zhumashova (Asia)
Gulkiz Tulay (Europe)
Outstanding chess arbiter
Anastasia Sorokina
Tshepiso Lopang (Africa)
Sabrina de San Vicente (Americas)
Kaussar Bauyrzhan (Asia)
Shohreh Bayat (Europe)
Outstanding chess educator
Alshaeby Razan
Magret Ngugama (Africa)
Sandra Torres Braiz (Americas)
Rozaliya Vendrova (Asia)
Nilufer Cinar Corlulu (Europe)
Outstanding chess organiser
Cristina Pernici Rigo
Judith Kiragu (Africa)
Beatriz Marinello (Americas)
Gulmira Dauletova (Asia)
Yana Sidorchuk (Europe)
Outstanding chess player of 2021
Alexandra Kosteniuk
Amanda Ngwinondebe (Africa)
Maria Esther Granados Diaz (Americas)
Bibisara Assaubayeva (Asia)
Outstanding chess trainer
Shadi Paridar
Anzel Laubscher (Africa)
Regina Ribeiro (Americas)
Baktygul Tilebaeva (Asia)
Natalia Popova (Europe)
Outstanding influencer/commentator/social media star
Tania Sachdev
Jovita Nwansi (Africa)
Alexandra Botez (Americas)
Dilayla Sadvakasova (Asia)
Ellen Fredericia Nilssen (Europe)
Outstanding photographer
Anastasiya Karlovich
Patricia Claros Aguilar (Americas)
Shakhnazi Musaeva (Asia)
Eteri Kublashvili (Europe)
Outstanding politician
Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen
Damaris Abarca (Americas)
Zhansaya Abdumalik (Asia)
Outstanding representation of ‘He-For-She’
Jean Michael Rapaire
Erick Takawira (Africa)
Carlos Rivero Gonzalez (Americas)
Ye Jiangchuan (Asia)
Wojciech Zawadzka (Europe)
Woman with disability for outstanding fighting spirit
Svetlana Gerasimova
Valeska Rozas Lazcano (Americas)
Dariia Kudainazarova (Asia)
Handenur Sahin (Europe)