Five players to represent Kenya in 2026 Intellect Academy Cup
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 17.02.26. | 14:47
In addition to the main event, the festival will include FIDE-rated Rapid and Blitz tournaments, Bughouse competitions, puzzle-solving contests, as well as a rich cultural and entertainment program
The Kenyan team has arrived in Russia for the 2026 Intellect Academy Cup, which will run all the way to Saturday.
This is the second year in a row that Kenya is being represented at the five-day event, which brings together players from different parts of the world.
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The festival’s main event is a FIDE-rated youth team competition—an exciting and innovative tournament under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF).
The competition features a unique age-restricted team format of five players.
In addition to the main event, the festival will include FIDE-rated Rapid and Blitz tournaments, Bughouse competitions, puzzle-solving contests, as well as a rich cultural and entertainment program, receptions, and other side activities.
Kenya will be represented by: Floyd Wesonga, Dylan Wema, Amini Muhani, Jadarudo Achieng and Ryan Mutinda.
The team is accompanied by Moses Kwereba (Coach), David Chesaina (Chaperone) and Caroline Njenga (Arbiter).
Elsewhere, Czech Grand Master (GM) Vojtěch Plát has officially registered to take part in the upcoming Mavens International Open tournament.
A former Czech National Champion, Olympiad warrior, and blitz powerhouse, Plát (FIDE 2457, peak 2589) has been making waves since childhood, from winning youth titles at nine to battling the world’s best at the FIDE World Cup.
Fresh off a bronze medal at the 2025 European Blitz Championship, he brings speed, precision, and serious firepower to Nairobi.
Organisers of the event have announced an impressive prize fund of Kshs 2million for the 20-22 March event to be held at the Piano Campus, Westlands.
The winner of the open category will walk away with an impressive Kshs 750,000 prize fund, making it the richest since the 2023 Kenya Open, where the winner in this category pocketed Kshs 1.3million.
Runners-up in the open category will earn Kshs 150,000, with the third-placed player pocketing Kshs 50,000.
In the ladies’ category, the winner will pocket Kshs150,000, while the runners-up earn Kshs 70,000.
The third-place player will get Kshs30,000.
There will also be prizes for the Best University players in both the Open and Ladies category as well as People Living with Disabilities.