© Courtesy/Gilbert Wandera
© Courtesy/Gilbert Wandera

Zuri Kaloki makes history at Africa Junior Chess Championships

Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 27.09.25. | 15:48

This is the first time in 35 years that a Kenyan player has finished on the podium in Africa’s top junior event

Kenyan teenager Zuri Kaloki made history in Cape Verde this week after winning bronze at the Africa Junior Chess Championships.

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This is the first time in 35 years that a Kenyan player has finished on the podium in Africa’s top junior event.

The last time was in 1990 when William Juma Arogo won bronze when the tournament was held in Botswana.

Kaloki, with a rating of 1836, went into the tournament on the back of a great performance at the Kenya National Youth Chess Championships held in Kitale, where she finished runners-up in the under-16 category.

After an impressive start in which she slayed some giants, Kaloki saved the best for last, bringing down Botswana Olympiad Banda Natalie in the final round to be assured of a medal.

Her splendid performance has come with several benefits. First, she has gained a massive 36 points, pushing her rating to 1872 and becoming one of the highest-rated Kenyan ladies.

She has also secured a conditional Woman Fide Master (WFM) title pending her reaching a rating of 1900, and this will make her the fifth Kenyan lady with the title.

In the open section, national under-12 champion Jadon Simiyu finished in fourth position after drawing his last match.

Though he finished joint third, the tie breaks did not favour him as he was pushed down to fourth place.

It was also an incredible performance by Simiyu, who was taking part in the event for the first time and gained six elo points to improve his rating.

Elsewhere, the two-day Kenya National Junior Championships will be held from Saturday, 27 September, at the Clarion Hotel.

A total of 60 players have registered for the two-day event, whose winner will earn an automatic place to feature in December’s Kenya National Chess Championships.


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Zuri KalokiAfrica Junior Chess Championships

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