Kenya to host Africa Youth Chess Championships

NAIROBI, Aug. 12 — No love lost as 13 countries lock horns in battle for the Africa Youth Chess Championship, which will be held in Kisumu, Kenya starting from Sunday to Aug 18.
Neighbors Rwanda will give the event a bye with the East Africa region represented by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Other participating countries include Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Cameroon and Somalia. North Africa will be represented by Egypt and Algeria.
Chess Kenya Chairman Bernard Wanjala said, “The game of chess has traveled the length and breadth of the globe and therefore you should be very proud of yourself for carrying this wonderful tradition.”
Kenya will be represented by 58 players, with South Africa fielding in 23 players, Algeria 17 players Namibia 15, while Uganda and Zimbabwe will have 14 players each during this year’s Championship.
Duke Michieka, Vice President Technical Chess Kenya, said it’s all systems go for this year’s event.
“The participants have already jetted in for this year’s championship, there will be stiff competition from the Egyptians, South Africans, Algerians and host Kenyan players,” said Duke.
The players will be divided into 12 categories from age eight to 18. The game format will be played as a nine round Swiss event with time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds.
The Under-18 boy’s category has attracted Egyptian International Master Kandil Adham, who is the highest rated player in the event.
Others are Algeria’s Candidate Master Araoun Saadi, Kenya’s Sumit Satish, Liloko Elvis and Munene Brian, Zambia’s Patrick Linda and Namibia’s Van der Anthony.

Xinhua