Fide Masters Martin Gateri and Stephen Ouma are among the top players who on Sunday, December 26 won their respective opening matches of the 2021 Kenya National Chess Championships.
The competition is taking place at The Luke Hotel in Nairobi, and Chess Kenya will issue a brand new Mazda car to the top player in the open section, while the winners in the ladies section will pocket ksh100,000.
The best players in the open and ladies sections of people living with disabilities will each receive ksh10,000.
Gateri, with a 2068 Fide rating, beat Martin Mambo in 1458 to mark a bright return to competitive chess after more than six years of inactive.
Gateri is remembered for representing Kenya in five Olympiads and his participation in the championships has generated excitement among local chess players, with many being eager to see if he is still a master in the game of wits.
Ouma, who is Kenya’s only other Fide Master and is rated 1906, annihilated Armon Sein (1370) while defending champions Mehul Gohil (2014) also started the competition brightly by edging out Brian Kirwa (1445).
Candidate Master Ben Magana, ranked first in the competition by virtue of being rated highly at 2081, started the contest slowly after being held by Zadock Nyakundi (1472).
In the ladies section, defending champion Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Lucy Wanjiru (1586) defeated Silvia Kariuki (1064). Joyce Nyaruai (1675) who is also a (WCM) overpowered Mercy Cherono (1139).
Curtains will fall on the championships which is taking place in nine rounds on October 30 whereby from it, Chess Kenya will select the team to compete in the 2022 World Olympiad in Russia.