Decent performance from Kenyans in day six of the World Youth Chess Championships
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 05.11.24. | 14:32
The tournament ends on Sunday and has brought together players from 46 countries
At the halfway mark of the ongoing World Youth Chess Championships in Brazil, all the Kenyan players had picked at least a point and will be looking forward to a strong finish in the remaining five rounds.
National junior girls’ champion Zuri Kaloki is the best-performing Kenyan having picked three points after six rounds of matches.
She picked another crucial draw against highly ranked Neininger Sarah from Germany who is rated 1786.
Hope Muthoni, who had picked her first point in round five, failed to continue with the positive show as she fell to Brazilian Carvalho Rhianna Pietra Aguiar rated 1463.
Another Kenyan in this category Lisa Wanjiru found the going tough as she could not match up to Deysel Hannah from Russia who is rated 1406.
Valma Njoki received a bye, even as Natalie Watitu was brought down by Argentina’s Verlvade Valentina Emma (1461).
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In the under-14 boys’ category Jabu Gachwe Kariuki finally managed to pick a point after five rounds when he drew the highly-rated Chile’s Saa Manriquez Gaspar Facundo (1539).
Wesley Gitau had a bye with Francis Njenga going down to Brazil’s Friedrich Augusto Johannpeter (1523) in a hard-fought match.
Mathenge Gichugu produced another positive performance when he drew against Kan Audric from Taiwan in the boys under-16 category. Gichuga’s patient play proved pivotal as he picked a draw against a player rated more than 100 points above him.
Daniel Baraka Simiyu was not so lucky against higher-rated Plard Axel from Luxembourg (1944) despite bringing all his rookie energy to the table.
The National Junior Champion Hawi Kaloki with a rating of 1872, checked Brazilian Felix Eduardo with a powerful win, moving up the ranks and keeping his “king” intact.
Nelly Kariuki completed the day for Kenya with a loss going down to Norway’s Larsson Susannne Wiggen who at 1493 was the higher-rated opponent.
The tournament ends on Sunday and has brought together players from 46 countries.
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