Olawale Oyeleye Reports
The 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, has been nothing short of an adventure for Team Kenya. Visa delays threw an early curveball, causing some players to miss the initial stages, but despite these setbacks, Kenya managed to assemble teams for both the Open and Women’s sections.
Leading the charge in the Open team are Martin Njoroge, Matthew Kanegeni, Robert Mcligeyo, Elvis Likoko, and Ian Mutuge, all of whom faced tough competition from the very start. Their first test came against a powerhouse Swiss team, resulting in a 3.5-0.5 defeat. Yet, amidst the tough losses, a young star shone bright—Robert Mcligeyo held his ground and secured a remarkable draw against Grandmaster Li Min Peng. This impressive achievement earned him praise, showing the world that Kenya’s chess players can hold their own against the best.
On the Women’s side, visa issues posed even greater challenges. Only two players made it to the board in time for the first round, forcing Kenya to forfeit. But as the tournament advances, more Kenyan players are arriving and ready to make their mark in upcoming rounds. The team remains determined to put up a fight and gain invaluable experience from this prestigious event.
The Chess Olympiad, taking place at the impressive SYMA Sports and Conference Centre, has drawn 193 teams in the Open section and 181 in the Women’s section. While the competition is fierce, the spirit in the Kenyan camp remains high. Each match is an opportunity for growth, and the team is keen to learn and improve on the world stage.
As the tournament progresses, we eagerly look forward to seeing what Team Kenya will achieve next.
