Nairobi: The 2025 Kenya National Chess Championship (KNCC) is scheduled to take place from 26th December to 31st December, 2025. The event will be held at the Chess Kenya Offices, located on the 4th Floor of the Jubilee Insurance Exchange Building on Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi. The Championship, exclusively for Kenyan players, will adopt a Round Robin format and feature the country's top chess talent.

According to Kenya News Agency, among the elite contenders are three-time national champion Candidate Master (CM) Ben Magana, three-time champion Mehul Gohil, and CM Robert Mcligeyo, the defending national champion. Also in the fray, there will be rising stars such as FIDE Master (FM) Simiyu Jadon and Arena International Master (AIM) Omolo Kenneth, promising a highly competitive event.

The KNCC is organized by Chess Kenya, the official governing body for chess in the country that is recognized by FIDE (the International Chess Federation). Chess Kenya is responsible for organizing national tournaments, selecting teams for international competitions, and promoting chess development across Kenya. The federation is currently led by President Benard Wanjala, who took office in 2017, succeeding Githinji Hinga.

Since 2019, the championship has gained greater prestige, with the winner of the Open section receiving a car, a tradition that began when Mehul Gohil became the first champion to drive away with a Mazda Demio. In 2024, CM Robert Mcligeyo continued this legacy by winning a brand-new Nissan Note, valued at approximately Sh1.8 million. This growing tradition of rewarding champions with significant prizes reflects the increasing support and recognition for chess in Kenya.

This year, Chess Kenya has elevated the prestige of the Kenya National Chess Championship by introducing high-stakes incentives that have captured national attention. For the first time in the history of the championship, both the Open and Ladies sections will feature a prize-car award for the winners. This exciting reward has intensified competition and prompted players across the country to prepare more intensely than ever.

In addition to the grand prizes, the winners in both categories will earn automatic qualification to represent Kenya in top international events, including the Chess Olympiad and the Africa Individual Chess Championship. They will also receive the coveted National Champion title and official recognition by Chess Kenya, further solidifying their place among the country's elite chess players.

'This year's championship is the strongest one on record. There is no argument that the best 11 players are in the final stage. My preparation consists of understanding at a deeper level the playing styles of my opponents and accordingly preparing my strategy against them,' Mehul 'Gorilla' Gohil told KNA. 'If I do happen to win a fourth title, I will have nothing more to prove on the local scene, as my domination of Kenyan chess would be complete,' Gohil further stated.

In the Ladies section, the battle is expected to be fierce. The lineup includes top contenders such as four-time champion and the defending champion WFM Sasha Mongeli, three-time champion WFM Joyce Nyaruai, WCM Lucy Wanjiru, and other strong players like WCM Jully Mutisya, WCM Elizabeth Cassidy, WCM Nashipae Bella, and Kaloki Zuri.

'The introduction of a car reward in both sections of the nationals shows the major strides taken by the federation to equalize the sport,' Githinji Hinga, former Chess Kenya president, said in an interview with KNA. 'Chess is a mental game, and there should be no imbalance of any kind. What we've been unfortunate to have, not just in Kenya, is equal opportunity and consistent encouragement for the ladies,' Hinga said.

The 2024 Kenya National Chess Championship, held at Makini School, attracted 230 players, 180 in the Open section and 50 in the Ladies' section. This year's edition is expected to attract an even higher number of players, driven by several key factors: the consistent high turnout in tournaments throughout the year, a growing number of FIDE-rated players, and the inspiring performance by Kenya's youth chess team at the 16th Africa Youth Chess Championship in Harare.

'This is significant for me being the last year I am serving as president of Chess Kenya. My dream has been to see chess as a sport play a big role in transforming the lives of players,' Benard Wanjala, President Chess Kenya told KNA. 'We will also be selecting the Kenya national team for the Olympiad. Our team average age has been so high; given many juniors have qualified for finals, we expect some of them to make it to the team,' Wanjala further noted.