National chess team set for Norway event
What you need to know:
- The team will for the first time feature two new entrants, Jackson Kamau and Winnie Thitu who upset seasoned players to seal their spots in the squad.
- His performances have seen his team mates tip him for titles at the Olympiad and even an upset over the Grand Masters.
The national chess team jets out of the country tomorrow morning for the 41st World Chess Olympiad that gets underway in Tromso, Norway on Friday.
The Kenyan team, comprising of 10 players, five men and five women, has promised to improve on its ranking and scoop more individual titles than it did in the last event in Turkey in 2012.
Tuesday, the team held its last training session at the YWCA hostels and also played a rapid seven round tournament against a Kenyan select side.
The team will for the first time feature two new entrants, Jackson Kamau and Winnie Thitu who upset seasoned players to seal their spots in the squad. The duo has been impressive most notably Kamau who has won five title since qualifying for the Olympiad.
Kamau’s recent title was last weekend during the inaugural Kenyatta University Open where he beat national champion Ben Magana, his fourth victory over the five times Olympiad.
His performances have seen his team mates tip him for titles at the Olympiad and even an upset over the Grand Masters.
However, the 27-year-old Kamau has played down his chances of toppling the big boys promising to learn from his debut appearance at the event.
“I want to learn as much as possible, meet the best players in the world and hopefully do my best for my country”, Kamau told the Daily Nation Sport.
The businessman who has been playing for under two years now believes there is a lot of talent in Kenya but lack of resources has hampered its development.
Winnie Thitu learnt chess at her work place in Daadab refugee camp where she has been working as a clinical officer.
She is hoping to upset the favourites and improve her game with the experience of an international event. “It is my first international event. I can’t wait to meet the champions and show them my worth,” she said.
