Former national champion misses as Kenya names teams for 46th World Chess Olympiad tournament
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 06.01.26. | 13:21
A total of ten players have been selected to take part in the event, the most prestigious tournament in the international chess calendar
Kenya will be represented by one of the youngest teams at this year’s Chess Olympiad to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in September.
A total of ten players have been selected to take part in the event, the most prestigious tournament in the international chess calendar.
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The event, held every two years, has attracted more than 200 countries.
The Kenyan team was picked after the National Chess Championships, which concluded last week.
In the men’s team, only veteran Ben Magana, who plays for KCB, made it to the team.
National champion Jadon Simiyu will lead the Kenyan men’s team after being declared the national champion.
At 13 years of age, he will be the youngest ever player to represent Kenya at the Olympiad.
Another teenager, Kyla Kuka, will also be making his maiden appearance at the Olympiad after finishing runner-up at the national championships last year.
Former national champion Robert Macligeyo is also in the team.
This is also his first Olympiad. Kenya’s highest-rated player, Hawi Kaloki, completes the men’s team line-up and will be seeking to make a big impact at his first-ever Olympiad.
The women's team also has quite a few surprises.
National champion Julie Mutisya leads the team as she makes her third appearance at the Olympiad.
Her first one was in 2022 in Chennai, India. She also appeared at the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
Sasha Mongeli, who has played in five Olympiads, also made the cut after her runner-up finish at the national championships.
Former World Amateur Chess Champion Madelta Glenda is back in the team after missing out on the 2024 Olympiad as she was completing her pharmacy degree at the University of Nairobi.
Nicole Albright makes her maiden appearance at the Olympiad together with teenager Zuri Kaloki.
Former national champion Joyce Nyaruai was the biggest casualty as she failed to make it to the team for the first time.
The men’s team will be handled by Victor Ngani, while the women's team's coach is Moses Andiwo.
Chess Kenya chairman Bernard Wanjala has promised that the team will be given adequate preparations before the championships.
“We are working on an extensive training program to ensure the team has the best preparations before the Olympiad. We will ensure that they get the services of Grand Masters and other top coaches before the championships,” he said.
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