5043 budding youngsters descended at Mangu High School for the 2024 Kenya National Youth and Cadets Chess Championship.
The championships are a climax of the regional qualifiers held between February and March. The number of competitors in the prestigious national youth and cadets championships has nearly increased by 100% compared to last years edition.
“This increase is a testament to the success of Chess Kenya’s grassroots initiatives, the Chess Mashinani program.”- Benard Wanjala
But how has Chess Kenya achieved this?
“Through our nationwide seminars and workshops, Chess Kenya has ignited a passion for the game in previous peripheral regions, empowering a new generation of chess enthusiasts.”– Benard Wanjala
Children aged under-eight through to under-18 will battle it out for honors with the top ten players in each category qualifying for the playoffs whose winners of respective categories will be crowned Kenya National champions earning the priviledge to wear the Kenyan national colors in international events.
The director of field coordination and co-curriculum activities in the Ministry of Education, Nelson Sifuna, officially opened the championship, where he officially announced that the chess will be officially supported by the Ministry of Education.
“Following the recommendations of the parliament, chess will now be officially supported by the Ministry of Education.”
Meanwhile, the President of the African Chess Confederation Tshepiso Lopang is super chuffed by what the Chess Kenya has achieved. And is confident that in the next years to come Kenya will produce more GMs and WGMs.
The fact that Chess Kenya put on this event and attracted massive entries is great. A lot of these children are just starting out, and they want competitive games against children of a similar age so they can see how good they are. I am super proud of what Chess Kenya has achieved and I can’t wait to see them producing GMs and WGMs in the next years to come.- Tshepiso Lopang (African Chess Confederation President)
Photo Credit: Chess Kenya