Chess Kenya (CK) has welcomed the introduction of the game in the secondary schools calendar.
Chess and Scrabble were introduced in the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) calendar this year. Chess and chess were initially supposed to feature as a demonstration sport, but organisers decided to have teams compete.
Chess Kenya (CK) president Bernard Wanjala said, “I want to extend my gratitude to FEASSSA for incorporating Chess in their calendar. This will go a long way in growing the game in the country.”
He said they will hold discussions with the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSSA) to decide whether chess can be included in the Term One or Term Two calendar.
During the championship held at the Masinde Murilo University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenyan students dominated with three gold, four silver, and two bronze medals, while Uganda won one gold and two bronze medals.
In the individual category, Jadon Simiyu won gold with 5.5/6 points, with Nathaniel Manyeki clinching silver with 5/6 points. Wayne Njarumi settled for silver with 5/6 points.
In the girls’ category, Elizabeth Cassidy won gold with 6/6 points, while Kaloki Zuri bagged silver with 5/6 points and Shukri Shakira bronze with 5/6 points.
In the team category, St Mary’s College, Kisubi, won gold after garnering 14 points, while The Tigers from Kenya clinched silver with 12 points. St Henry’s College Kitovu clinched bronze with 10 points.
In the girls’ category, Queens Gambit from Kenya bagged the title with 18 points, followed by compatriots Royal Checkmates with 11 points, while Wampewo Ntaake were third with 10 points.
Jadon Simiyu was named the Most Valuable Player with a perfect 6/6 score and a performance rating of 2,436, while the girls’ title went to Elizabeth Cassidy, also from Kenya, with a 6/6 score and a performance rating of 2,299.
Team Kenya coach Caroline Njeri said, “Having Chess in FEASSSA for the first time is a great achievement. This will take the game to another level.”
In next year’s FEASSSA games in Tanzania, lacrosse, cricket, beach football, and beach volleyball are expected to be introduced. The games were played as demonstration sports in the just-concluded games in Kakamega.
by ANGWENYI GICHANA
