© Chess Kenya
© Chess Kenya

Kenyans struggle as World Youth Chess Championships starts in Brazil

Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 30.10.24. | 12:03

The Kenyan contingent took on highly-rated opponents with none picking a win on what was a bad day in office

Kenyan players posted a rough start to the World Youth Chess Championships that got off in Brazil on Tuesday afternoon.

The Kenyan contingent took on highly-rated opponents with none picking a win on what was a bad day in office.

The Kenyan team arrived in Brazil on Monday night after an almost 24-hour journey which looked to have had a toll on their performance.

National under-14 champion Kaloki Zuri fell to Albanian Caku Kler. Kaloki who is rated 1624 was no match for the 1932 Woman Candidate Master (WCM) who at 1932 is one of the highly-rated players in the tournament.

In the same category, unrated Valma Njoki lost to Shanmathi Sree from India who at 1762 was the strongest opponent.

In the under-14 open category, Jabu Gachwe Kariuki lost to Rajandu Aaron from Estonia with Wesley Gitau another Kenyan also going down after he was edged on the board by Armenian Askanazyan Gor (1851).

Under-16 open representative Daniel Baraka Simiyu making his first international appearance went down fighting to France’s Lissillour Baptiste.

It was a baptism of fire for the Mbooni Boys High School student who started competitively playing chess six months ago. His opponent on the other hand is rated 2015.

National junior champion Hawi Kaloki also lost, going down to Joseph Steve while Nelly Kariuki who is representing the country in the girls under-18 category got a walkover and will start her games on Wednesday afternoon.

The tournament will end on Sunday 10 November with Kenya represented by 12 players.


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