Equity Bank win the Kenya National Chess Premier League title

Equity Bank are the 2023 Kenya National Chess Premier League (KNCPL) champions.

Despite making a comeback to the top league this year, Equity displaced former champions KCB after winning the last match on Sunday.

Going into the last match of the season at Kenyatta University at the weekend, KCB were at the top by one point, and the last match against Equity Bank was always going to determine the winner.

In the match, Equity Bank fielded a strong squad that included two Ugandans, Patrick Kawuma and Haruna Nsubuga.

The former champions, KCB, on the other hand, brought in top Ugandan player Harold Wanyama in a bid to retain the title.

In the end, however, it was Equity Bank that won the match 3.5–1.5 to emerge champions with 14 points.

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Hugh Misiko, who finished runners-up in last year’s national championships, got off to a bright start for Equity Bank as he took advantage of Jackson Kamau’s tactical blunder to win the first match.

On board five, Equity’s Julie Mutisya caused an upset after she beat national champion Joyce Nyaruai. Patrick Kawuma then beat Ben Magana before Haruna Nsubuga and Harold Wanyama drew in an all-Ugandan affair.

Joseph Methu was the only winner for KCB, as he beat Victor Ngani. KCB team manager Isaac Babu congratulated their opponents and said they would fight to win back the title next year.

“We did not have some of our top players, but we accept the result and will strategize for the new season,” he said.

Nairobi Chess Academy and Club (NACHA) finished in third position yet again. This was ahead of top clubs like Nairobi Chess Club and Nakuru Chess Club, which finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Kenyatta University and Westlands Chess Club will be relegated after finishing among the bottom two.

In the division-one league, Mavens Tacticians defied all odds to emerge as champions.

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