Ngani on course to make national team for the 2024 Chess Olympiad

Victor Ngani emerged as the top player in the men’s category securing 14 points in the second phase of the chess national team selection which came to an end on Sunday at KCB Sports Club.

Ngani with a rating of 1893 dominated the tournament with an impressive performance as he picked five wins out of six matches.

Former national champion Martin Njoroge finished in second place collecting 4.5 points while Mathew Kanegeni managed third place also with 4.5 points.

A total of seven players in the men's category made it to the final phase of the national team selection.

Apart from Ngani, Njoroge, and Kanegeni others who made it to the final phase are Ian Mutuge, Mehul Gohil, Elvis Likoko, and Lenny Mataiga.

The seven will join national champion Joseph Methu, Ken Omollo, and Robert Macligeyo who qualified directly for the final phase of the national team selections.

In the women's category, Nicole Albright collected 14 points to emerge top ahead of the seven other players who made it to the final phase.

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She finished ahead of Julie Mutisya who was second with 11 points.

Others who qualified are Mercy Ingado, Wanjiru Kimani, Vyonne Adego Mwashe, Madelta Glenda, Channel Mackenzie, and Ether Karanja.

They will be joined by Elizabeth Cassidy, Joyce Nyaruai, and Sasha Mongeli in the final phase of the selection to be held over two weekends from February 9-11 and February 16-18,2024.

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After the final phase, a total of ten players (five men and five women) will qualify to represent Kenya at this year’s Chess Olympiad to be held in Hungary in September.

Meanwhile, the Nairobi schools league resumes this Saturday with more than 20 teams taking part.

The tournament will be held at Makini School from 9 a.m. Other regions Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, and North Rift also kicked off their various league at the weekend.