By KPC Sports Reporter
The 2026 Mavens International Chess Championship has attracted over 450 players from eight countries competing for a share of the $15,000 prize fund in one of the region’s premier chess events.
The tournament features elite competitors, including Grandmasters, International Masters, FIDE Masters and Candidate Masters, underscoring its growing stature on the international chess calendar.
Kenya has fielded a formidable contingent, with the national team using the competition as key preparation ahead of the 45th World Chess Olympiad.
After three rounds, Uganda’s Nyola Wasswa Mark shares the lead in the Open section with Hungary’s Czebe Attila and South Sudan’s Gong Thon Gong, with all three maintaining perfect scores.
In the Ladies section, Kenya’s Lucy Wanjiru and Bella Nashipae are setting the pace with three points each, closely followed by Uganda’s Asiimwe Olivia.
Rising Kenyan talent Zuri Kaloki, 16, expressed confidence in her performance as she sharpens her skills ahead of the upcoming African Championship later this year in Uganda.
“It has been a great experience so far. We are facing some of the top players in the world, and that allows us to learn and improve. I am looking forward to the next round and hoping to play at the top boards,” she said.
Namibian player Dante Beukes, competing in Kenya for the first time, welcomed the high level of competition and said he is eager to test himself against local players.
“The competition is good so far. I have always wanted to come to Kenya, and this was a great opportunity to experience the level of chess here. I’m excited and would like to face some of the Kenyan youngsters I’ve only seen online,” he noted.
Mavens Chess Club director Tom Amwayi said the championship provides a rare platform for Kenyan players to compete against top-ranked international opponents without leaving the country. He called on corporate sponsors to support the growth of the sport.
The tournament will culminate in a grand awards ceremony on Sunday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, where winners will be crowned in what promises to be a thrilling finale.