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KCB Boosts Kenya Open Chess Tournament With Cash Sponsorship

BT ReporterApr 5, 2023707

KCB Chess Club Team Manager, Isaac Babu, interacts with, Terrian Chess Africa- Resource Mobilization & Partnerships Lead, Lorraine Kirigia and Fide Gens Una Sumus- Member, Anzel Laubscher, a chess player from South Africa. This was moments after holding a Press Briefing at Sarit Centre Expo, for the 2023 Kenya Open Chess tournament. [Photo/ Courtesy]

KCB has injected Ksh0.5 million into the Kenya Open Chess Tournament that will kick off tomorrow 5^th– 10^th April 2023 at the Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi.

The 31^st edition of the Kenya Open Chess Tournament has attracted over 450 chess players from across the globe who will be battling for various prize purses with the overall winner expected to take home Kshs. 1 million Kenyan shillings.

The four-day long event has been divided into various categories including open section, ladies section, veterans, persons with disabilities (PWD), universities and junior sections.

Speaking during a press conference at the Sarit Expo Centre, Kenya Chess Federation president Benard Wanjala said: “This is one of the biggest Chess tournaments in the continent. We are happy to have more than 10 Grand Masters who will help our local players to up their games. This event for sure will definitely be one of the toughest tournaments on African soil. We expect more of such events in the future to uplift the standard of chess in Kenya.”

KCB Chess Team players under the tutelage of Candidate Master Benjamin Magana are looking forward to headline the event following their successful defence of the Kenya National Chess League title in December last year.

On his side, Kenya National Chess League Chairman and KCB’s Isaac Babu noted that the bank is keen on ensuring that the sport grows exponentially and the Kenya Open Chess Tournament provides an opportunity for local players to earn FIDE ratings from the event.

“As KCB, we are happy to partner with Kenya Chess in sponsoring the biggest tournament in the continent. This collaboration will give a platform to our locally talented players to interact with Grand Masters (GMs), International Masters (IMs) as well as other highly rated Chess players from across the globe and earn FIDE ratings in the process.”

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