The champions of the just-concluded Kenya National Youth & Cadets Chess Championship Playoffs 2026, an event that took place at Mang'u High School in Kiambu County on April 9-13, featuring over 5,000 young players, have now been revealed.
Communicating via a statement on their social media platform, Chess Kenya (CK) noted that only those who finished joint 11th at nationals were given a seat at the table and now the champions will represent Kenya at the Africa Youth Championships in Entebbe.
" From the first round of the nationals to the final moves of the playoffs, this year’s KNYCCC delivered exactly what chess lovers dream of: upsets, redemption arcs, rising stars, and champions who had to earn every single point on the board," read the statement.
"At this stage of the playoffs, it’s simple: only match points matter. First, the players face off in two rapid games, 10 minutes each, switching colors. If still tied, we turn up the heat with two blitz games, fast, sharp, unforgiving, " CK continued
"And if they’re still inseparable… then comes the ultimate decider, One game. White gets more time but must win. Black gets less time, but a draw is enough to take it, " the statement described.
The National champions were led by
Zawadi Zoe Ebba of St. Bakhita School, who walked away with the title, finishing strong on 9/11 points in the U-eight-year-old Category, while Karugo Timothy Maina of Pine Crest School emerged as the category winner with a solid 9 points in the U- eight Open.
Newcomer Naomi Wamwenje came, saw, and controlled the U-10 category—finishing with an impressive 9.5 points to claim the title, while Marc-Antoine Ishimwe (1493) of Premier Academy stood tall as the category champion of the U-10 open with 9 points.
The U-12 Girls had Winnie Kaburo (1792) of Mavens Chess Club reminding everyone why she’s a household name as she bounced back from a 5th place finish at the nationals to dominate the playoffs unbeaten with 10.5 points and reclaim her place at the top, a more or less similar scenario also playing out in the U-12 Open where after 11 intense rounds, the category still refused to separate its best.
Africa gold medalist Muli Faraja Mumo (1788) of PMadol Chess Club and Africa Youth champion Nathaniel Manyeki (1864) of Mavens Chess Club both finished on a commanding 10 points and with no slips and no clear winner, so, into tie-breaks they went, and this is where Faraja, known for his sharp instincts and speed chess mastery, made it count; striking early in the rapid games to secure the title before things could stretch any further.
The U-14 Girls saw Onyango Shirlyn Gathoni (1610) of The Corner Brook School stamping her authority to finish with a commanding 8.5 points, standing 1.5 points clear of the field, as Continental medalist Waweru Davidson Mugo (1850) of Moi Nyeri Complex once again showed why he’s the benchmark, winning the U-14 Open.
Elizabeth Cassidy Maina (1939) of Kitale Progressive Junior School won the U-16 Girls, while Newcomer Elvis Muigai Kamau (1561) of Alliance High School arrived quietly but played loudly and won the U-16 Open.
Another surprise package of the playoffs was Gikandi Bernice Wambui (1609), who turned her runners-up finish at the nationals into a full redemption arc, going unbeaten through the playoffs to claim the U-18 Girls title, at 15 years old, as Simiyu Baraka Daniel (1764) of PMadol Chess Club emerged as the new national champion of the U-18 open.
After the Mang'u High School national Playoffs, all eyes now shift to the African Youth Chess Championship 2026, scheduled for Entebbe, Uganda, May 14th - 23rd, a premier tournament bringing together top young talents from across the continent, a much more deserving platform for Kenya's national category champions to now flex their chess skills and compete among Africa's elite.
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