G. WanderaEquity Bank return to national chess league after a year in the cold
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 14.04.23. | 11:27
The bankers have brought on board new players in preparation for return to the competition
Equity Bank Chess Club have made a come-back to this year’s league after a year of absence, official have announced.
The bankers have made some major signings in preparation for the league according to Antony Kionga, the Kenya National Chess League (KNCL) Secretary.
Before staying out of the top league, Equity Bank had won the league in 2013, 2017 and 2018.
“We are happy to welcome them back to the league due to the stiff competition they are expected to bring,” he said.
In preparations for their return back to the league, the bankers have signed Hugh Misikho who finished runners-up in the national chess championships last year, Brian Mwangi, Julie Mutisya from Nakuru Chess Club and former national champion Ken Omollo.
Ugandan top players International Master (IM) Arthur Ssengwanyi and FM Patrick Kawuma have been retained by the bankers.
Kionga said they expect at least four other banks to also join this year’s league and increase the level of competition.
“We had a captain’s meeting and agreed on all the modalities for running the league. First, we have slightly increased the charges for participation fees considering that our expenses have gone up over the years and we have retained the same figures for quite some time,” he stated.
He announced that the winners for the top division will pocket Ksh.100,000, the runners-up Ksh.50,000 and third placed teams Ksh.25,000.
The winner of the league will represent the country in next year’s Africa Club Championships.
The following clubs have confirmed will take part in this year’s league Nairobi Chess club, KCB, Strathmore University, University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Nakuru Chess club, Daystar University, Westland Chess Club and the United States International University (USIU).
Others Include; Knights Riders, Mavens Chess Club, Jommo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), LightHouse Chess Club, Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and Elite Chess Academy.
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