Every child that participates in the tournament will be paired with a business executive to form a team of two.
They will play together against other equally composed teams.
Below you can find some of the participants.
ELIZABETH CASSIDY
Age: 11
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Trans Nzoia Kitale
Biggest Chess Merits:
♛ African Champion under 9
♛ African School Champion under 11
Elizabeth in her own words:
We are a family of four, two kids and my parents.
We live in Trans Nzoia Kitale, Kenya. My father is a cyber café attendant and my mother is a house wife.
I go to school at Kitale Primary School and I am currently in grade 4. My favourite subjects are mathematics.
I started learning chess in 2019 and my future plan is to be a Grandmaster. After school I want to be a doctor.
BERNICE WAMBUI
Age: 12
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Juja, Nairobi
Biggest Chess Merit:
♛ Bronze in African School Championships Under-11
Bernice in her own words:
I am an only child and I live with my mother in Juja, Nairobi, Kenya. My mother is an ICT officer.
I go to school at Juja St. Peter’s School and I am in grade 5. I love mathematics, English, science & technology, home-Science and physical health education.
I started playing chess at the age of 5 years when I joined Juja St. Peter’s school at Grade 1, and I fell in love with chess. In 2019 I joined Lighthouse chess club to have more exposure and play with more advanced players as the club is blended with primary, high school, university, and other adults. I also joined the Cross Culture Girls initiative. All this has made me improve a lot and I have got to a level of representing Kenya on international level.
My plan is to become a Women Grandmaster and a Robotics Engineer.
ISAIAH OTIENO
Age: 17
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Nairobi
Biggest Chess Merit:
♚ Current Nairobi Junior Champion
Isaiah in his own words:
I am 17 years old and from Mukuru Kwa Njenga. In my family we are 8 members and I am the 4th born. We live in Donholm. My mother is a housewife. I go to school at Mang’u high school and currently in Form 2. I love Mathematics, Physics, English, History and German.
In 2015 when I was in class four I started learning chess. Chess was taught by an N.G.O ( Sport Outreach ) which was gathering kids from the slum and using sports as a tool to teach them and also sponsored us to pursue our studies.
Soon I started participating in tournaments in the year 2016 where I won my first medal.
In 2017 I came in contact with GM Pontus and Business Meets Chess & Kids that has helped me and my family since then. Thanks to GM Pontus we have been able to move from the slum to a real flat in Donholm with a warm shower.
My brother also got saved by an important operation. We are very greatful for all this help.
I plan on becoming Kenya’s first chess Grandmaster and also being the World Champion.
Further, I wish to play chess as a career and pursue electrical engineering as my profession.
FANTALIS NDUTA
Age: 11
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Embu
Biggest Chess Merit:
♛ Kenyan Champion under 8
Fantalis in her own words:
In my family we are 2 children and I am the 1st born. We live in Embu with my mother. She is a teacher.
I go to school at Nyeri primary school grade 5. My favourite subjects are mathematics and science.
I started playing chess in 2017 and I have participated in and had a podium finish in various tournaments including 6 series of Mount Kenya Junior Championships, Porterhouse School Championships, Peponi School Championships among others. I became the under 8 girls national champion in 2019 and took part in the Africa Youth Chess Championships in Namibia playing for team Kenya. I also took part in Africa online Individual Championships in 2020 and in the Online Chess Olympiad in 2021.
Currently I am focusing on improving my chess to the level of Grandmaster.
When I finish school, I want to be a pilot as well as play chess.
GENEVIEVE MAASHAO
Age: 12
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Mombasa
Biggest Chess Merits:
♛ 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze medals in Kenyan Youth Championships
Genevieve in her own words:
I come from a family of Five (5) and I am the last born. We live in Kiembeni Estate, Mombasa with both our parents. My father is an IT technician and my mother a housewife. I go to school at Ananda Marga Academy Kiembeni.
I am in grade 6. My favourite subjects are Mathematics, English, Kiswahili.
I started learning chess in 2018 and since then I have participated in various tournaments. I am also a member of the Cross Culture Girls program. 2021, is a year to remember since I became a 2nd Run-up in Kenya National Youth & Cadets Chess Championship – Under 12.I really wish to become a GM and when I complete my schooling I want to pursue Medicine.
JAMIE OBORA KANAGO
Age: 14
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Mombasa
Biggest Chess Merits:
♔ Coast U-13 Champion
♔ Bronze in African School Chess Championships under 13
Jamie in his own words:
I come from a family of 5. My parents and 3 kids. I am the 2nd born. I live with both parents at Utange Mombasa. I go to school at Jeddy’s Academy, Mombasa, Kenya. I am currently in primary 8.
My favourite subjects are Maths, English and CRE
I have been playing chess for 8 years and I started of as a beginner playing people a class above me.
I become youngest team captain in the school, and I have won lots of medals. Chess has also taken me out of Kenya since I have travelled to Uganda for Chess and also written articles about chess in the school magazine. I plan to continue my pursuit to become a Grand master and when I finish school I wish to be an accountant.
MERCY INGADO
Age: 18
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Kawangware, Nairobi
Biggest Chess Merit:
♛ Current African School Champion under 17
Mercy in her own words:
I come from a family of 4 children (2girls and 2 boys). I’m the lastborn. We live in Kawangware, Nairobi.
My parents are working, my mother is a housekeeper and Dad is an accountant.
We live in a one bedroom house.
I school at Huruma Girls High School, Nairobi and I am in form 4 (secondary). My favorite subjects are Mathematics, Geography, English and Business studies.
I started playing chess in 2015.
I’ve been to many tournaments and most of them I’ve been at the top, winning trophies or medals
Chess has given me great opportunities like traveling out of the country, I’ve been to Uganda as a lighthouse chess club member to take part in Kampala Open.
I’ve also been to Ghana as part of Team Kenya to take part in the AYCC tournament in 2021
I have a great passion for Chess.
I aspire to be an IM (International Master) in chess. After school I’ll be working but chess will be my main activity.
ROBERT MCLIGEYO
Age: 17
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Nairobi
Biggest Chess Merits:
♔ Current Kenyan Champion under 16
♔ Player of the Kenyan National Team
♔ Bronze medalist at African School Championships under 17
Robert in his own words:
I am the 1st born in a family of four. We live in Nairobi with my mother. My mother is a health worker. I school at Rusinga School Year 11. My favourite subjects are Business and History.
I started learning chess in 2017 and I started playing tournaments in 2018.
In 2019 I became the highest rated junior in Kenya.
I have also played for the Kenyan National Team in the online Olympiad 2020.
Chess has given me the chance to travel abroad and to represent my country. I played in the Africa Youth Chess Championship in Ghana 2021 and I qualified for the Kenyan National Team at senior level so I will be playing in next Chess Olympiad, something that I am really looking forward to.
I plan to be a top 100 chess player in the world and when I finish school I wish to pursue Business Law or be a full time Chess player.
YVONNE MWASHE
Age: 13
Country: Kenya
Lives in: Mombasa
Biggest Chess Merit:
♛ Current Mombasa Champion under 12
Yvonne in her own words:
We are a family of 4. My parents, my brother and me. I am the 2nd born. I live in Mombasa with my mum. She is a project manager. ‘
We do not live with my father.
I go to school at light International school and I am currently in grade 6. My favorite subjects are maths, science, music CRE and swimming.
I am in the school swimming team.
I started playing with chess pieces when I was 5 years although at 2 years I loved playing around with the chess pieces.
I train chess everyday and I have participated in several chess tournaments.
Currently I am the under 12 girls champion in Mombasa.
In September 2021 I was part of team Kenya representing the country in the Africa Youth Chess Championship.
I love playing chess and I enjoyed beeing an actress in the movie Mukami that shows how chess can change your life. I would love to be a famous actress, to travel around the world and to live a happy life.
I am training very hard to get the chess title of Women Grandmaster.
When I finish school I wish to continue playing chess, have my own music studio and practice design.
Mukami Trailer: This is the story of an African girl’s journey through life and chess starring Yvonne Mwashe
Kennedy Shane
Age: 14
Country: Zambia
Lives in: Lusaka
Biggest Chess Merit:
♛ Africas youngest Candidate Master
♛ African Champion under 9
Kennedy in his own words:
My name is Kennedy Shane and I live in Lusaka in Zambia. I go to school at Kabulonga Trust School where I am currently in Grade 8.Thanks to my chess skills I have gotten a sponsorship by the school.
The subjects that I find most interesting is maths and chess.
I really enjoy playing chess, it makes me very happy. Thanks to chess I have been able to travel to foreign countries to play. Thus far I have been to India, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia. I am currently Lusakan Champion and a Candidate Master and I want to become a Grandmaster.
I have played with GM Pontus Carlsson in a simultaneous exhibition and I got a draw. When I grow up I would like to become Zambias second Grandmaster and a Chess Professional.