Paul Oketch caused a major upset during the first round of the 2022 Mombasa Open when he defeated 4th seed & 2016 Kenya Open Champion Ben Nguku.
It is not the first time Ben Nguku has had a bumpy start. In the 2016 Kenya Open unrated Duncan Apiyo held Ben Nguku to an embarrassing draw!
Round two saw further drama, with Dau Adol Makuach defeating 2021 Kenya National Champion Martin Njoroge.
The 2022 Mombasa Open is a resounding success, with just over 80 players in the Open Section.
FM Haruna Nsubuga of Uganda, the defending Champion, is seeded number one, while his compatriot CM Emmanuel Egesa is number two. Kenya’s hopes now lie with CM Ben Magana, 2021 Kenya National Champion Martin Njoroge and 2019 Kenya National Champion Mehul Gohil.
The top prize in the Open Section is an impressive KES 50,000 (USD 450). The total prize fund is KES 120,000 (USD 1,000).
Hillary Sagwa v Adim Ayok
WCM Joyce Nyaruai is the top seed in the Ladies’ Section, with Gloria Jumba, the 2018 Kenya National Champion, seeded second. Glenda Madelta, the 2021 World Amateur U1700 Champion, is also seeking her maiden Mombasa Open title.
The Ladies’ Section has 28 players vying for the top prize of KES 20,000 (USD 180). The total prize fund is KES 50,000 (USD 450).
The 2022 Kenya National Junior Chess Championship is concurrently (Open and Ladies) taking place to select the top player to the country in the 2022 African Junior Chess Championship set for Bejaia, Algeria. The premier continental event runs from 12th to 20th November 2022 at the Raya Hotel.
The Open Junior Section has 60 players while the Ladies’ Section has 30 participants.
Mombasa Chess Club is the organiser of all three events, with Chess Kenya being the primary sponsor.
2022 Mombasa Open on chess-results.com.
2022 Kenya National Junior Championship on chess-results.com.
Mehul Gohil wins 2019 Mombasa Open.
CM Ben Magana wins 2018 Mombasa Open.
Elijah Emojong wins 2017 Mombasa Open.
IM Elijah Emojong wins 2016 Mombasa Open.
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins 2015 Mombasa Open.
Article by Kenya Chess Masala.
