Number of Kenyan players to feature at World Youth Chess Championships revealed
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 14.06.26. | 15:01
The team received all their visas on Friday and are all set to compete with the rest of the world
Kenya will take part in two international youth tournaments this month.
The world cadets chess championships is scheduled to start on Tuesday in Batumi, Georgia.
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Kenya will be represented by a team of five players who jetted out of the country on Sunday afternoon.
The players include: Riri Gichangi Mwangi ,who will take part in the boys under-10 category, Amini Muhani Masiza (Under-8 girls) and Darien Kigen Rotich (Under-10 boys).
Others are: Mali Mugo (Under-10 girls), Africa under-12 silver medalist Nathaniel Manyeki and Riley Matingi Waweru (under-12 girls).
According to Chess Kenya President, Bernard Wanjala, this year’s participation marks a significant shift in policy by Chess Kenya, which has moved away from the previous practice where national champions were expected to represent the country at multiple international events consecutively.
“The new approach ensures that players who finish on the podium are rewarded with international exposure and opportunities,” he said.
He added that under the revised sponsorship program, players who finished in positions one to three at the national championships are guaranteed full sponsorship for international events.
This is the third international event that Kenyan youth are participating in after the Africa Youth Chess Championships, which was held in Uganda in May.
Kenya also sent a team to the Commonwealth Chess Championship held in Sri Lanka last month.
The World Cadets Championship provides a valuable platform for Kenya’s young talents to gain international experience and test their skills against some of the world’s strongest junior players.
Apart from the World Cadets, Kenya will also take part in the World Youth Chess Championships to be held in Italy from this Wednesday.
Kenya has entered a team of 17 players who will be accompanied by seven officials to the 13 day event.
The team received all their visas on Friday and are all set to compete with the rest of the world.