(Press release courtesy of Nairobi Chess Club)
The Nairobi Chess Club (NCC) executive committee has confirmed that the club will kick off its activities for 2012 with the annual and very popular Nairobi Chess League on 21st January 2012. The club will introduce a novelty in the manner in which it kicks off the league. Breaking from the tradition of starting immediately with the first rounds, on the opening day there shall be a team blitz tournament to determine the seeding and pairing for the event.
Matches being played at the 2011 edition of the Nairobi Chess League
Furthermore, NCC would like to announce that it will be organising two leagues this year. Club secretary Mehul Gohil explains: “The league is a good way to maintain continuous club activity and seeing that we have time on our hands in the second half of the year we thought why not have two leagues? Having two leagues also helps achieve one of our main club objectives for 2012, namely introducing more events played at classical time controls. Two leagues, one at rapid time control and another at classical will also help the club consolidate its rating lists for the two time controls.”
The league commencing on 21st January 2012 will be using a time control of 45 minutes per player. There will be two rounds on each league day. The format will be a round robin.
The launch of the 2012 league will also coincide with a ground breaking event – coronation of the NCC Player of the Year 2011 Award for which on-line voting is open at http://www.facebook.com/questions/269052483151635/?qa_ref=qd
The four shortlisted players and their 2011 achievements are as follows:
Martin Gateri: Won the two Fizza Gorilla Blitz Championships comprehensively, played on Board 1 for Kenya at the All Africa Games 2011 in Maputo.
Mehul Gohil: Won the inaugural NCC Grand Prix Rapid Open, produced the best AAG qualifying performance over the two days and then went on to become the best Kenyan performer at the All Africa Games 2011 in Maputo.
Ben Magana: Won the 2nd NCC Grand Prix Rapid Open, was crowned 2011 NCC Champion, will finish the year atop the NCC Rapid rating list and was Kenya’s 2nd best performer at the All Africa Games 2011 in Maputo.
Githinji Hinga: Signalled his entry into the Kenyan elite with a gritty AAG qualifying performance, played Board 2 for Kenya at the All Africa Games 2011 in Maputo, and finished the year with a spectacular top 5 finish at the FIDE rated Rwabushenyi Open (Kenya’s best performer at the international event).
The award will consist of an eye catching trophy and a KES 5,000/- cash prize. Voting closes on 15th January 2012.