The event is set to run from Thursday, April 6 to 10 at the Sarit Expo Center.
The 2023 Kenya Open Chess Championship has attracted 24 nations with Indian Grandmaster (GM) Siram Jha and South African Woman International Master (WIM) Anzel Laubscher some of the big names who have confirmed participation.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 6 to 10 at the Sarit Expo Centre and is divided into the open, ladies, veterans, people with disabilities, universities, and junior sections.
The event was officially launched on Wednesday April 5 at the venue of the tournament and it was graced by Terrian Chess Africa’s CEO and founder Brian Kidula and the Head of Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Lorraine Kirigia and KCBs Isaac Babu.
Speaking at the event, Jha expressed his excitement at playing in Kenya for the first time.
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“It is my first time to come to Kenya and I want to admit that the lucrative cash prize is what attracted me,” he said, adding that the event will go a long way in helping players get GM and WIM norms in a continent that has less than five Grandmasters.
On her part Laubscher lauded the Chess Kenya Federation (CKF) for starting up the Chess in Schools (CiS) initiative aimed at tapping talent for the grassroots.
Meanwhile, the Chess Kenya president Bernard Wanjala extended a hand of welcome to all the participants and encouraged them to not only enjoy the event, but also explore Kenya’s rich cultural diversity and heritage.
The 31st edition of the Kenya Open Chess Championship will be keen to offer the players from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds an opportunity to share a common bond and passion in chess as they appreciate the beauty of Kenya.