Chess champ Kenneth Omollo plots to retain national title

What you need to know:

  • This year’s prize fund will be Sh150,000, with the winner pocketing Sh50,000 in the Open section and Sh30,000 in the women’s section.

National champion Kenneth Omollo will be out to defend his title during this weekend’s Nairobi Open Chess Championship at the Makini School.

The Kenyans will face stiff opposition from Ugandans during the second edition of the event that has attracted over 200 players.

Omollo, who won at the inaugural edition last year, leads a stellar field that includes former national champions Peter Gilruth, CM Ben Magana and Mehul Gohil to the event.

Omollo scored  5.5 points out of a possible six on his way to victory. Magana finished second, with Mehul Gohil, CM Haruna Nsubuga (Uganda), Ronald Lwebuga (Sierra Leone) and Martin Njoroge tying in third place on 4.5 points each.

The national champion told Daily Nation Sport on Thursday: “It will be a great weekend of chess with the big boys taking part but I am up to the task and will not let my title go easily.”

Former women’s champion Sanjana Deshpande is the favourite to win the women’s title but will have to overcome last year’s winner WFM Ivy Amoko of Uganda as well home players Gwen Jumba, Rose Wambugu, Daphne Mwikali and Stephanie Mumbi.

This year’s edition - which will feature the Open, Women’s and juniors’ section - will be closely contested being the final Grand Prix event to pick Kenya’s team for this year’s Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This year’s prize fund will be Sh150,000, with the winner pocketing Sh50,000 in the Open section and Sh30,000 in the women’s section.