Upset galore as Zone 4.4 Chess Championships start in Nairobi

The Africa Zone 4.4 Chess Championship started on Friday at the Clarion Hotel with three upsets.

Round one saw three upsets with second seed and new Kenya Commercial Bank Chess Club recruit 18-year-old Hawi Kaloki (Elo 1990) losing to his younger sister Zuri Kaloki (Elo 1784) of Mavens Chess Club in a five and a half hours thriller.

Big field register for second edition of Inter-Universities Chess Championships

Fourth seed Eldoret-based player Hugh Misiko (Elo 1922) also of KCB fell to team-mate and two-time Kenya women champion woman candidate master WCM Joyce Ndirangu (Elo 1821).

Lenny Mataiga (Elo 1905) of Equity Bank Chess Club fell to his teammate and reigning women national champion woman FIDE master WFM Sasha Mongeli (Elo 1871) in a boa-constrictor manner to complete round one action.

In round two, two-time Olympian and Equity Bank’s woman candidate master WCM Jully Mutisya (Elo 1815) downed her teammate Mataiga (Elo 1905).

Ban for viral male player disguised as woman reduced

Zuri continued harvesting Elo points after holding reigning Somali men champion Abdulkadir Warsame (Elo 1979) to a draw.

Only ten players consisting of four women and six men are taking part in the one week event.

The low numbers have forced organizers to merge the event into one.

Elsewhere, Chess Kenya has announced a revision of its rules regarding the Grand Prix events following feedback from its stakeholders.

According to a statement from the federation, only events that are open to all will be considered Grand Prix events.

“Following concerns raised about the Grand Prix, Chess Kenya has made the following decisions-Grand Prix events shall be open to all without restrictions, except for entry fees,” the statement read.

“Any event that imposes restrictions based on rating, age, membership in a specific group, or region will be disqualified from the Grand Prix circuit.”

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to see more 3x3 basketball teams

The federation further announced that any previously recognized Grand Prix events with such restrictions are hereby removed from the official circuit.

“A participant will be deemed to have taken part in a Grand Prix event only if they complete the tournament as per the advertised number of rounds.”