KCB Chess team players proved their prowess after producing 5 players out of 10 who will form the team heading for the All-African Games scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana later in the year.
The five are Robert Mcligeyo, Bernard Nguku, Joseph Methu, and Benjamin Magana in the open section while woman candidate Master Joyce Nyaruai made the cut in the ladies’ section.
The third and the final leg of the Chess All-African games qualifiers came to an end earlier today at the Utalii hotel with the 10 best players set to represent Kenya at the All-African games in Accra, Ghana later this year.
17-year-old Robert Mcligeyo who recently joined KCB from Lighthouse Chess Club topped the rankings after 11 rounds with 8.5 points while his KCB counterpart Bernard Nguku came in second after garnering 7.5 points.
Another KCB player Joseph Methu was third with 6.5 points while Equity Bank’s Elvis Likoko and Candidate Master Benjamin Magana tied on 6 points to make the final 5 in the open category.
Woman Fide Master Sasha Mongeli outshined her compatriots in the ladies’ category after finishing first with 7.5 points while KCB’s Joyce Nyaruai came in second with 6.5 points. Cynthia Awino, Madelta Glenda and Mutisya Jully are the other players who qualified.
Commenting after her final match, a buoyant Joyce Nyaruai said: “I am extremely happy today. Despite my slow start to these qualifiers, I managed to slowly and gradually get my game right and today’s qualification is a reward for my hard work and adequate preparedness.”
KCB’s trio of Ricky Sang, Jackson Kamau and 2021 Kenya National Chess Champion Martin Njoroge finished 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.
