KCB has pumped Sh500,000 in support of the Kenya Open Chess Tournament that is scheduled to kick off on April 5 and end on April 10 2023 at Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi.

The 31st edition of the Kenya Open Chess Tournament has attracted more than 450 players from across the world with the overall winner expected to walk away with Sh1 million.

The four-day tournament is divided into a number of categories including open section, ladies section, veterans, persons with disabilities (PWD), universities and junior sections.

“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,” said Kenya Chess Federation president Benard Wanjala.

KCB Chess Team players led by Candidate Master Benjamin Magana will headline the event after successfully defending the Kenya National Chess League title in December 2022.

Read More

  1. KCB Group post-tax profits soars by 49 per cent to Sh45.8 billion in Q3 2024
  2. Tanzanian giant AMSONS Group secures green light for Bamburi Cement takeover
  3. Safaricom secures Sh30 billion loan to strengthen its sustainability agenda

Fide Gens Una Sumus - Member Anzel Laubscher, KCB Chess Club Team Manager Isaac Babu and Terrian Chess Africa- Resource Mobilization & Partnerships Lead Lorraine Kirigia. PHOTO/COURTESY


Kenya National Chess League Chairman and KCB’s Isaac Babu said the bank will support the game to grow saying the significant contest will enable local players to earn FIDE ratings.

“As KCB, we are happy to partner with Kenya Chess in sponsoring the biggest tournament in the continent,” Babu intimated.

He added, “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.”