Magana keeps Open chess title in Kisumu

Kenya's Ben Magana ponders his next move during East Africa Chess Festival match against Patrick Kawuma of Uganda at Kenyatta University on April 21, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Magana, who had been doubtful for the two-day FIDE-rated event, was a last-minute entrant.

KCB Chess Club skipper and former national champion Ben Magana retained the Open title at the second edition of the Scottish Tartan Open chess tournament in Kisumu at the weekend.

Magana, who had been doubtful for the two-day FIDE-rated event, was a last-minute entrant.

Magana held off the challenge of Ugandan Candidate Master (CM) Haruna Nsubuga with both players finishing with a final tally of five and half points but the Kenyan won due to his higher ranking, beating 77 other players who had taken part in the event christened ‘the battle of Migingo’.

“I sorted out the issues that had threatened to derail my title defence. I will be back here again next year to make it a hat-trick of titles,” Magana told Daily Nation Sport.
The duo faced off with the penultimate round with both on four points and the winner of the tie wining the event but the game ended in a draw with Magana’s pair of bishops unable to achieve much against Nsubuga two knights.

Another Kenyan, John Mukabi who plays for Equity Chess Club finished third with five points ahead of Philip Singe and Ricky Sang respectively.

WOMEN'S COMPETITION

In the women’s category, Uganda’s Women Fide Master (WFM) Ivy Amoko retained her title after finishing with four points ahead of Kenyan champion Sanjana Deshpande who came in second with three and a half points with Gloria Jumba rounding off the top three positions also on three and half points.

Dismas Oketch was the winner in the challengers section with four and half points, followed by Andrew Owili (four) and Evans Odipo (three and a half).

KCB Chess club won the overall team title despite the members not receiving financial backing while Strathmore University were the best university team. Winners were awarded trophies and cash tokens valued at Sh 140,000.