Nairobi: Fourteen-year-old FIDE Master (FM) Jadon Simiyu is calling the shots at the 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship (KNCC) with a perfect score of 5/5. He announced his arrival in his first victory in the Open Section with a sharp win over Lenny Mataiga in the ongoing tourney at Westwood Hotel in Westlands.
According to Kenya News Agency, Simiyu confidently employed the Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation, playing with the black pieces to secure the full point in Round 1. The tactical play saw Simiyu tighten his grip with a decisive move that forced the win of Mataiga’s queen, leading to a queen vs. rook and bishop endgame, which resulted in Mataiga’s resignation on move 47.
Simiyu’s dominance continued as he secured back-to-back victories against renowned players, including Kenya’s speed chess specialist Irungu Brian in Round two and his clubmate Kuka Kyle in Round three. His most notable victory was against three-time national champion Mehul ‘Gorilla’ Gohil in Round four, signaling his serious intentions for the 2025 national title.
The Round five victory against 2021 national champion Martin Njoroge extended Simiyu’s perfect run. With a performance rating of 2744, Simiyu has a bye in Round six, granting him time to prepare for his upcoming clash against Arena International Master (AIM) Kenneth Omolo.
Chasing Simiyu is a competitive field led by three-time national champion CM Ben Magana and Kaloki Hawi. Defending champion CM Robert Mcligeyo is in a challenging position, tied with AIM Kenneth Omolo.
In the Ladies’ Section, Nicole Albright has emerged as a formidable contender, storming into the lead with 4.5 points after six rounds. Her campaign began with a victory over Kaloki Zuri and continued with significant wins, including against Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Joyce Nyaruai in Round six.
Albright’s precision in tactical battles has kept her in strong contention for the national title, with WCM Elizabeth Maina and others closely pursuing her. The KNCC, which started on December 26th, promises high stakes with brand-new cars as prizes and includes a Blitz tournament targeting 150 players.
With several rounds remaining, every game counts in the Round Robin format. The 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship remains a wide-open contest, with the national title up for grabs.
