Triza Mwendwa and FM Harold Wanyama are the 2022 Kenya Open Champions (Ladies & Open) which ended on Easter Monday at The Luke Hotel in Nairobi.
The Open section had a four-way tie at the top.
FM Harold Wanyama of Uganda won the 2022 Kenya Open on a tie-break with 7.5 points after defeating compatriot and 2nd seed FM Patrick Kawuma the 9th and final round. He tied on points with compatriots FM Haruna Nsubuga, Emmanuel Egesa and James Panchol of South Sudan. The quadruple shared the top four cash prizes, each getting KES 65,000 (USD 550).
FM Patrick Kawuma saw his hopes of a maiden Kenya Open title go up in smoke when he blundered on move 18 to go an exchange down.
FM Harold Wanyama is now a three-time winner of the Kenya Open. He won the first two titles in 2012 and 2018.
On board 1 FM Haruna Nsubuga drew against compatriot Emmanuel Egesa to score 6.5 points each. Emmanuel Egesa is making his maiden Olympiad appearance for Uganda in the 2022 Chennai edition.
Pre-tournament favourite IM Arthur Ssegwanyi of Uganda had a disastrous outing finishing 13th overall. The highest-rated East African who represented Africa Zone 4.2 at the World Cup in 2016 will lose about 18 points from 2412 to below 2400. No other East African has ever hit the 2400 mark.
Joseph Methu, the 2019 Kenya Open Defending Champion, had a disappointing outing. He ended up with 6 points and in joint 4th position but 19th in the ranking.
The 2019 Kenya National PWD Champion, Sadam Ali, stumbled in the 9th round when he lost to Glen Kingoina Oruke. Sadam Ali still scored a respectable 4.5 points out of 9 rounds to win the top prize in the PWD section and go home with KES 9,000.
The 2019 Kenya National Champion, Mehul Gohil missed a strong podium finish when he lost on time to James Panchol of South Sudan in the 9th and final round. Mehul Gohil scored 6.5 points to end up in joint 3rd position or 10th in the ranking.
Elvis Likoko, on the other hand, defeated 2021 Kenya National Champion Martin Njoroge in the 9th round to end up with 6.5 points and bag the Best University Student prize. He went home with KES 20,000.
In the ladies section of 40 players, Kenya’s Triza Mwendwa was the sole winner after defeating compatriot WCM Joyce Ndirangu in the last round to finish with 7 points. She went home with KES 80,000 (USD 700).
WCM Joyce Ndirangu, the tournament favourite, was leading from round 7 and seemed to have lost concentration when she dropped a piece on the 32nd move in her game against Triza Mwendwa.
World Amateur Woman U1700 Champion Madelta Glenda stopped 6-time Olympian veteran Gloria Jumba to end in 5th place. She joined WCM Joyce Ndirangu, new talent Ether Karanja and reigning Kenya National Champion WFM Sasha Mongeli, all on 6.5 points to share 2nd to 5th place. Each took KES 24,375.
PWDs Ladies:
1) Mercy Cherono 4 points earning KES 5,000.
2) Margaret Kanyua 2 points earning KES 3,000.
PWDs Open:
1) Sadam Ali 4.5 points KES 9,000.
2) Wambalo Wong 3.5 points KES 4,000.
University Ladies:
1) Jully Mutisya (KCA University) 6 points KES 15,000.
2) Sheila Kosgey (JKUAT) 5.5 points KES 5,500.
3) Wanjiru Kimani (Kenyatta University) 5.5 points KES 5,500.
University Open:
1) Elvis Likoko (Strathmore University) 6.5 points KES 20,000.
2) Brian Irungu (Masinde Muliro) 6 points KES 3,750.
3) Zadock Nyakundi (Thika Technical) 6 points KES 3,750.
4) Adol Makuach Dau (Kenyatta University) 6 points KES 3,750.
5) Martin Kagiri (JKUAT) 6 points KES 3,750.
Veterans Open:
1) Peter Gilruth 5.5 points KES 5,833.
2) Rodgers Adai 5.5 points KES 5,833.
3) Collins Young 5.5 points KES 5,833.
All Photo credits – Oliver Ananda with text edited from John Mukabi
2022 Kenya Open on chess-results.com.
2022 Kenya Open Day 1 Report.
2022 Kenya Open Day 2 Report.
2022 Kenya Open Day 3 Report.
2022 Kenya Open Day 4 Report.
Aluta Continua on the 2022 Kenya Open by Mehul Gohil.
Joseph Methu wins 2019 Kenya Open.
FM Harold Wanyama wins 2018 Kenya Open.
