𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝐙 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚’𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Fourteen-year-old FIDE Master (FM) Jadon Simiyu and Women Candidate Master (WCM) Mutisya Jully have been crowned champions of the 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship (KNCC) in the Open and Ladies sections, respectively.

The two prodigies conquered a field of 11 of Kenya’s top players in a gruelling round-robin tournament held at Westwood Hotel in Westlands from December 26 to 31, ending the year in style and etching their names into Kenya’s chess history.

FM Master Jadon Simiyu dominated from round one, and by round five, his perfect winning streak made it clear: he’s not just playing for glory; he’s gunning for the keys to that car!

After a restful bye in Round 6, FM Jadon Simiyu stormed back into action in Round 7 with a commanding performance against Arena International Master (AIM) Kenneth Omolo, one of the top contenders chasing him.

Simiyu opened with 1.e4, and Omolo responded with the Pirc Defence, but the teenager was ready. He launched into the aggressive 150 Attack, a proven weapon against the Pirc.

By move 18. Nf3, Simiyu had built a lethal kingside initiative and after Black captured the knight, it triggered the brilliant 20. Qxh6+, cracking open the position.

What followed was clinical; Omolo found himself down a pawn and a piece, and his position in ruins. With no way back, he was forced to resign by move 29, as Simiyu’s perfect run continued, unshaken and unstoppable.

FM Simiyu’s impressive run continued into Round 8, where he claimed yet another notable victory, this time sinking the ship of Kenyan chess legend and three-time national champion, Candidate Master (CM) Ben Magana.

Magana fought courageously, throwing in clever tricks like the sharp 26…Qb6 in an effort to steer out of danger.

But Simiyu’s heavy arsenal had already torn holes in the veteran’s position, and the boat was sinking fast. Despite a wave of tactical clashes, the dust settled with Black two pawns down and White’s king active in the endgame.

The rescue call never came and Magana was forced to resign, taking a major blow to his title hopes.

With a blistering performance rating of 2761, 14-year-old FM Jadon Simiyu faced off with Kaloki Hawi (2069) in a tense Round 9 showdown, a clash that had all the makings of an upset.

Hawi, showing no fear, pushed the tournament leader to the edge and even found himself in a potentially winning position.

But Simiyu’s tactical brilliance kicked in just in time, forcing a draw and narrowly escaping defeat. The result kept Hawi in the elite top five; the squad is expected to fly Kenya’s flag in major international events like the Chess Olympiad.

“I’m excited to win this tournament and one strong thing I have done in this tournament is survive a lost position against Hawi; I will never forget that experience,” said FM Simiyu, in an interview with CM Ben Magana.

FM Simiyu remained the solo leader heading into Round 10 but was held to a second consecutive draw by KCB’s Boera Felix. The result shaved off 4 Elo points and saw his performance rating dip to 2327.

With the car prize already guaranteed and one round to go, Simiyu faced a fired-up former national champion, CM Robert Mcligeyo, in the finale.

In a dramatic twist, the young star suffered his only loss of the tournament.

Ironically, the defeat worked in favour of CM, which pushed him to second place in the final standings, allowing him to snatch the Sh120,000 runner-up prize from the jaws of CM Ben Magana, who was ready to cash in.

“The strongest thing I have done in this tournament is win all my games with black,” CM Robert Mcligeyo told CM Magana in an interview after the tournament.

The Ladies’ section of the 2025 KNCC was nothing short of a battlefield, a fierce, unforgiving bloodbath on the 64 squares.

Heading into Round 7, Nicole Albright was in charge, confidently calling the shots at the top of the standings. However, her flawless run took its first hit with a hard-fought draw against defending champion WFM Mongeli Sasha.

With the title and the coveted car prize still within reach, Albright entered a must-win Round 8 clash against WCM Mutisya Jully.

But in a tense, seemingly drawn endgame, one misstep proved fatal as Jully capitalised on a tactical landmine that Albright stepped on to snatch victory and seize the tournament lead.

Back-to-back draws for Albright against Jumba Gloria and WCM Elizabeth Maina in Rounds 8 and 9 served the final blow to her championship hopes.

Meanwhile, WCM Jully stayed relentless, bagging crucial wins over Kimani Wanjiru and a wounded WFM Joyce Nyaruai to tighten her grip on the title.

Not to be outdone, WFM Mongeli Sasha, the defending champion, unleashed a ferocious final push, defeating Madelta Glenda, WCM Nashipae Bella, and Kimani Wanjiru in the last three rounds.

She finished the tournament unbeaten, with six wins, four draws, and a bye in Round 3.

In the end, both WCM Mutisya Jully and WFM Mongeli Sasha tied on 8 points, but it was Jully who clinched the national crown, edging WFM Sasha on tiebreaks to become the 2025 Ladies’ Champion.

Kenya’s flag bearers for the 2026 international chess events are now confirmed, following the conclusion of the gruelling 11-round battle at the 2025 KNCC.

In the Open section, the Gen Z revolution stood tall, with prodigious talents storming the top five.

Fourteen-year-old FM Jadon Simiyu (U14) led the charge, followed by Kuka Kyle (U16), CM Robert Mcligeyo (U20), Kenyan chess legend CM Ben Magana, and the rising star Kaloki Hawi (U18). This youthful powerhouse will represent the country on the global stage next year.

In the Ladies’ section, newly crowned national champion WCM Mutisya Jully headlines the squad, alongside 2024 champion WFM Mongeli Sasha.

They will be joined by the fearless Nicole Albright, U16 standout Kaloki Zuri, and the ever-tenacious Madelta Glenda.

Together, these ten elite players will carry Kenya’s chess ambitions into 2026, ready to battle for glory in major international competitions.

The climax of the 2025 KNCC was the thrilling nine-round Kenya National Blitz Championship 2026. The fast-paced showdown featured 128 players battling it out on the board.

In the end, Chumba Allan (1760) of Anchor Chess Club edged out FM Jadon Simiyu in a tie on 8 points, with tiebreaks tipping the victory in Allan’s favour.