National youth chess Championships scheduled for this weekend at Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls’ and Ruthagati High School in Nyeri has attracted over 2,500 players.
Chess Kenya are using the event to select a team to represent the country at the Africa Youth Championships in Namibia in December. CK chairman Bernard Wanjala said the event will provide the best forum to select a strong youth team for the continental showpiece.
“The sport has lately hit all corners of the country and we expect all students who were selected from the five regions in the country will turn up. We want to make sure we get a good team because we will be flying the Kenyan flag,” said Wanjala. The championships comprise of six categories for both boys and girls including under-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18.
“I never expected schools and pupils from especially West Pokot to be interested in the sport but I am surprised with their response. This means as we continue to spread the gospel of the sport, many people are getting encouraged and taking up the sport,” he added.
According to Wanjala, the number of individuals and schools taking part has increased and this gives the federation a reason to work even harder in a bid to nurture talent.
“We want to use the national championships to create more space for upcoming players to see the need to take up the sport. The number of players has doubled from last year’s 1,500 to over 2,500, which is not easy at all. We are urging schools and individuals to embrace the sport,” he concluded.
