Young chess players in action during the 2026 Kenya Under-17 National Chess Championship. [Washington Onyango, Standard]
Kenya's next generation of chess stars showed their talent at the 2026 Kenya Under-17 National Chess Championship, which ended on Sunday after four days of exciting competition at Alliance High School and Alliance Girls High School.
The tournament attracted a record 4,700 players from across the country aged between seven and 17, making it one of the biggest junior chess events in Kenya. Young players battled for top honours in six age groups: Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17, with separate boys' and girls' competitions.
Brookshine School's Antwan Jayson emerged as the Under-7 Boys champion after an impressive campaign, while Mitchelle Wambui Gichuga of Mountain View School and Mavens Chess Club claimed the Under-7 Girls title.
In the Under-9 category, Ethan Kiptoo Terigin of MEC/SI Royal Club won the boys' crown, while Jayne Awuor of Gilgil Hills Academy finished on top in the girls' section.
Manyeki Nathaniel of Mavens Chess Club continued his fine form to lift the Under-11 Boys title, with Providence Academy's Oluchiri Jadarudo Achieng taking the Under-11 Girls championship.
The Under-13 titles went to Jesse Jayden of MEC/SI Royal Chess Club in the boys' category and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Kaburo Winnie of Mavens Chess Club among the girls.