Kenya picks first win at World Youth Chess Championship
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 31.10.24. | 21:15
Zuri was the favourite to win her second match considering that her opponent is rated a lowly 1423
Kaloki Zuri, the National Junior Ladies Champion rated 1624 registered Kenya’s first win in the ongoing World Youth Chess Championships in Brazil.
Zuri beat Estonia’s Karolina Karba in the second round of the 13-day tournament. The Kenyan champion went into the game on the back of her first-round loss to Albanian Woman Candidate Master (WCM).
Zuri was the favourite to win her second match considering that her opponent is rated a lowly 1423.
Kenyan coach Aurelia Jemutai termed the victory as very positive and she expressed confidence that Kaloki will do well in this world event.
“It is a tough competition with top youth from all over the world taking part. It has been a great learning experience for the players considering this is the first time for most of them,” she said from Brazil.
Other Kenyan players were not so lucky as they continued their losing streak. In the under-14 open category, Francis Njenga went down to Caballero Tabare from Uruguay in the second round and is yet to win his first match.
Njenga rated 1455 was facing a player rated almost 200 points more than him and it was always expected to be a tough battle.
Jabu Kariuki Gachwe playing in the same category went down to Brazilian Falcao Danilo Jose Ferreira (1665).
Gachwe is unrated and was not expected to match his opponent. Russian Deysel Kaleb rated 1667 made lightwork of Wesley Gitau.
In the girls' category, Hope Muthoni found the going tough against Brazilian Nunes Nikol and despite showing great tenacity fell in the end game. Natalie Watitu, another Kenyan also fell in her match against Lema Garcia also from Brazil.
Other Kenyans who lost were Njoki Velma who was beaten by Peru’s Huaman Perez, Daniel Baraka Simiyu who fell to Yang Vian from the United States of America while Mathenge Gichugu fell to Beitner Yohonatan from Israel.
It was no better for Hawi Kaloki who is still waiting for his first win after falling to Reyes Zavalata from Peru.
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