Kuala Lumpur:An eight-year-old chess player from Gilgil Hills Academy is set to lead the Kenyan team at the inaugural Commonwealth Schools Chess Championship in Malaysia, taking place from October 4 to 12.
According to Kenya News Agency, the young chess prodigy, who holds national and African titles, is part of a 10-member team of learners under 13 years old from the same school, representing Kenya in this international event.
The championship, organized by the Malaysian Chess Federation for the Commonwealth Chess Association and the International Chess Federation (FIDE), marks the first gathering of its kind, featuring junior and youth players. Jayne Awuor, who recently won the Under-9 girls’ title at the Kenya Under-17 National Chess Championship, expressed her readiness and enthusiasm to compete for her country.
Awuor mentioned her goal is to continue improving her skills with the hope of attaining the grandmaster title in the future. Her father and school chess coach, Vitalis Otieno, emphasized the importance of parental support in nurturing children’s sports talents and praised the school’s backing of various sporting activities, especially chess.
Otieno also announced his readiness to lead the delegation to Malaysia, supporting the young competitors in their international challenge. Joseph Kihato, the principal of Gilgil Hills Academy, highlighted the school’s commitment to sports, particularly chess, for its role in cultivating critical thinking, discipline, and patience among learners.
Kihato stressed the importance of balancing academic pursuits with co-curricular activities such as sports, as encouraged by the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Nakuru County Chief Officer for Disaster Management Joyce Ncece congratulated the children on qualifying to represent Kenya, noting that sports are crucial in engaging youth positively and deterring them from negative influences.
