Mehul Gohil wins 2022 Mombasa Open

Mehul Gohil kept calm by holding CM Ben Magana to a draw in the final 6th round to win the 2022 Mombasa Open with 5.5 points. He tied with CM Ben Magana, who also scored 5.5 points. However, based on the tie-break Mehul Gohil was declared the overall winner and clinched the now-famous ‘Athena‘ trophy.
The final game was a cliffhanger for spectators as both CM Magana and Gohil had five points each. Whoever won the game would be the clear winner and walk home with KES 50,000 (USD 450). CM Magana opened with 1.e4, with Gohil relying on his trusted French Defense to win the game. From move 34, it was clear that CM Magana retained the advantage, and it was only a matter of time before he delivered the knockout blow. Gohil struggled to hold on before he managed to find the drawing move 54……Nxc3 and clinch the title.
It is interesting to point out that this is Mehul Gohil’s second Mombasa Open title in addition to the one he won in 2019.
Gohil and CM Magana each won KES 40,000 (USD 375) for their effort.
There was a traffic jam for second place, with no less than four playing tying with 5 points each. Brian Mwangi, CM Emmanuel Egesa, Lawerence Kagambi and Elvis Likoko scored five points to each win a cash prize of KES 8,750 (USD 80).
The three-day and six-round event saw 80 players competing in the Open Section for a KES 120,000 (USD 1,000) prize fund at the plush Mombasa Continental Resort.

In the fifth round, Mehul Gohil faced a stern test when he had to take on FM Haruna Nsubuga, one of Uganda’s top players. Mehul Gohil was in sparkling form when he crushed FM Nsubuga in 46 moves. Mehul has annotated the game for this article.

A fascinating encounter from round three, with 2021 Kenya National Champion Martin Njoroge sacrificing a piece for a blistering attack only to see Adol Makuach Dau escape and win the game!

WCM Joyce Nyaruai of KCB Bank Chess Club won the Ladies’ section with 5 points, the same as Madelta Glenda of Equity Bank Chess Club. However, WCM Nyaruai was declared the winner as she had a better tie-break.
WCM Nyaurai and Glenda went home each with KES 17,500 (KES 150).
Gloria Jumba, Jully Mutisya and Mercy Cherono were in second place with 4.5 points each.
This section had 28 players competing for a cash prize fund of KES 50,000 over 6 six rounds in three days.

OPEN SECTION
1. Mehul Gohil – 5.5 points. KES. 40,000 (Team Dinosaur)
2. CM Magana Ben – 5.5 points. KES. 40,000 (KCB Chess Club)
3. Brian Gabriel Mwangi – 5 points. KES. 8,750 (Kimathi University)
4. CM Egesa Emmanuel – 5 points. KES. 8,750 (Kireka Chess Club)
5. Kagambi Lawrence – 5 points. KES. 8,750 (Waridi Chess Ventures)
6. Elvis Likoko – 5 points. KES. 8,750 (Equity Chess Club)
LADIES
1. WCM Joyce Nyaruai – 5 points. KES. 17,500 (KCB Chess Club)
2. Madelta Glenda – 5 points. KES. 17,500 (Equity Chess Club)
3. Jumba Gloria – 4.5 points. KES. 5,000 (KCB Chess Club)
4. Mutisya Jully – 4.5 points. KES. 5,000 (Nakuru Chess Club)
5. Cherono Mercy – 4.5 points. KES. 5,000 (Kabarak University)
VETERANS
1. Singe Philip – 4 points KES 2,500 (KCB Chess Club)
2. CM John Mukabi – 4 points KES. 2,500 (Equity Chess Club)
BEST UNIVERSITY TEAM
1. Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology – 18.5 points
2. Kabarak University – 17.5 points
3. Kenyatta University – 15.5 points
4. Daystar University – 14.5 points
BEST CORPORATE CLUB
1. KCB Chess Club – 23.5 points
2. Equity Chess Club – 22 points
2021 – FM Haruna Nsubuga (Uganda)
2020 – Event not held due to Covid
2019 – Mehul Gohil (Kenya)
2018 – CM Ben Magana (Kenya).
2017 – IM Elijah Emojong (Uganda).
2016 – IM Elijah Emojong (Uganda).
2015 – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi (Uganda).
2014 – Mathias Ssonko (Uganda).
2013 – FM Haruna Nsubuga (Uganda).
2012 – LGM Brian Kidula (Kenya).
2011 – FM Harold Wanyama (Uganda).
2010 – FM Harold Wanyama (Uganda).
2022 Mombasa Open on chess-results.com.
Paul Oketch causes major upset in 2022 Mombasa Open.
2022 Kenya National Junior Championship on chess-results.com.
FM Haruna Nsubuga wins 2021 Mombasa Open.
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.
 

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