East Africa Junior Chess Championship set to open 2026 calendar
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 07.01.26. | 15:44
The annual event usually attracts more than 300 players, with the number expected to go higher as new schools are set to register
The stage is set for the East Africa Junior Chess Championships to be held this weekend at Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa.
This is the first event in the 2026 calendar and promises fireworks as players get down to serious business after a long holiday.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
There will be five categories to be competed for in the three-day event, including under-6, under-8, under-10, under-12 and the youth category.
According to organisers, the tournament will be played over seven rounds, with each game lasting 90 minutes and will be FIDE rated.
The annual event usually attracts more than 300 players, with the number expected to go higher as new schools are set to register.
Nairobi will host the first junior event on 24 January with the Karen Elite Junior Championships taking place at Don Bosco Mutune.
Entry fee for the one-day event is Kshs 2,000,with winners getting medals for finishing in the first three positions.
Elsewhere, the first grand prix event of the year will be the Eldoret Open to be held on February 7-8 at St. Luke’s Conference hall.
The two-day tournament has a prize fund of Kshs 116,000 with the open winner walking away with Sh.40,000.
The second placed will pocket Kshs 20,000. This is a big improvement from last year, where a prize fund of Kshs 80,000 was on offer.
The ladies category has a prize fund of Kshs 29,000, with the top lady set to walk away with Kshs 15,000 and the runners-up collecting Kshs 8,000.
Like last year, a number of top seeds are preparing to take part in the tournament.
Kenya’s highest rated player Kaloki Hawi, now in his second season at KCB, is among the top players who will take part in the event.
Hawi’s sister Zuri Kaloki will also be taking part in the event.
This will be their first tournament off the year after doing well at the national chess championships and earning a place in the Olympiad teams.
.jpg)
