Nairobi Chess Club triumphs over Crewe Chess Club

Nairobi Chess Club triumphs over Crewe Chess Club

Crewe Chess Club of the United Kingdom went crashing down when they faced Nairobi Chess Club last month during their first online match.

The event saw Nairobi Chess Club shrug off the Covid blues to win with a decisive score of 14-6 across 10 boards.  The event was hosted on the Chess.com platform took place on 21st February 2021 and had a time control of 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move.

Nairobi Chess Club raised a formidable squad for this event by bringing in some of their top players. The team comprised the two big guns, six veterans, and four others making their debut.

The Big Guns

Artem Gurevich who played for board 1 for Nairobi Chess Club in the National League was on the top board.  His opponent Harry Gardiner unfortunately did not make an appearance and hence lost by default.  Artem Gurevich was born in Riga the capital city of Latvia more popularly known as the birth place of Mikhail Tal the former World Champion.  He currently resides in the United Kingdom.

Artem Gurevich

Peter Gilruth on the other hand who plays on board 2 for Nairobi Chess Club won both his games.  Peter is one of Kenya’s top players and has represented Kenya in three Chess Olympiads besides winning several events.  He is currently the Vice-Chairman of Nairobi Chess Club a post that he has held from 2016.  Peter was born in the United States of America.

Peter Gilruth.

Peter Gilruth.

The Veterans

Roberto Villuela who plays on board 4 for Nairobi Chess Club but currently residing in Germany grabbed another two points from his opponent Lukasz HolcmanRoberto was instrumental in organising this historic match and has served as Treasurer of the club for a number of years.  He is originally from Spain,

Roberto Villuela.

Roberto Villuela.

Mushfig Habilov affectionately known as ‘Misha‘ who plays on board 5 for Nairobi Chess Club  in the Kenya National League grabbed a draw against David Price who is the President of Crewe Chess ClubMisha has since moved to Germany and has been the Director of Play at Nairobi Chess Club for several years.  He hails from Azerbaijan the former USSR republic.

Mushig Habilov aka 'Misha'.

Mushig Habilov aka ‘Misha’.

Willy Simons was another player who has represented Nairobi Chess Club in the Kenya National League, drew against his opponent Kobus Nienaber.   Willy Simons was the joint winner of the 1997 Kenya Open and is originally from Holland. He is currently a Committee Member of Nairobi Chess Club and in charge of the newly launched website.

Willy Simons.

Willy Simons.

Pranjal Parikh played well to draw her match against Nigel Gardner.  She has represented Nairobi Chess Club in the 2019 and 2020 Kenya National League.  Pranjal Parikh’s biggest achievement was when she won a bronze medal at the 2018 African Chess Youth Championship held in Kisumu, Kenya.

Pranjal Parikh

Pranjal Parikh

Karan Christie is another key player who has represented Nairobi Chess Club in the 2018 Kenya National League.  He was the influential founder of the  Daystar University Chess Club in 2011.  He managed to squeeze two vital points from his opponent Neville Layhe.

Karan Christie.

Karan Christie.

Kim Bhari the long serving Chairman of Nairobi Chess Club managed to win both his games again Andrew Crosby.

Kim Bhari.

Kim Bhari.

Players making their debut

Jean Baka Domelevo from France but currently residing in Kenya made his debut for Nairobi Chess Club but unfortunately lost both his game.

Jean Baka Domelevo.

Jean Baka Domelevo.

Benjamin Negru also made his debut appearance for Nairobi Chess Club and salvaged a draw against Lee Tilton.  He is originally from  Romania and taken part in several events organised by Nairobi Chess Club.

Benjamin Negru.

Benjamin Negru.

Peter Schupp who returned to Germany and played on the last board for Nairobi Chess Club managed to win both his games.  This was his debut appearance for Nairobi Chess Club.

Peter Schupp.

Peter Schupp.

Final Results

NAIROBI 14-6 CREWE
Artem Gurevich Harry Gardiner
Peter Gilruth 2-0 David Hulme
Jean-B Domelevo 0-2 Martin Frisher
Roberto Villuela 2-0 Lukasz Holcman
Karan Christie 2-0 Neville Layhe
Mushfig Habilov 1-1 David Price
Willy Simons 1-1 Kobus Nienaber
Kim Bhari 2-0 Andrew Crosby
Veniamin Negru 1-1 Lee Tilton
Pranjal Parikh 1-1 Nigel Gardner
Peter Schupp 2-0 Russell Smithers

Crewe Chess Club have promised to take revenge in the next encounter later in the year.

David Hulme v Peter Gilruth

Resumption of chess activity

The much needed victory against Crewe Chess Club came hot on the heels of Nairobi Chess Club opening its doors after almost a 9 months Covid forced hibernation.  The opening took place on 6th February 2021 at the home of the club which is the Goan Gymkhana Club, located along Ngara Road.

Peter Gilruth (left) starts the first post Covid chess game against Kim Bhari while Willy Simons (black shirt) and Brian Ngetich looks on.

Peter Gilruth (left) starts the first post Covid chess game against Kim Bhari while Willy Simons (black shirt) and Brian Ngetich looks on.

Granollers Chess Club

Nairobi Chess Club will now take on Granollers Chess Club of Barcelona, Spain on 14th March 2021 in an online match on Chess.com.

Roberto Villuela (left)of Nairobi Chess Club takes on Jordi Herms Agullo of Granollers Club D’Escacs at the Goan Gymkhana. Githinji Hinga of Mini Chess Kenya looks on. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Roberto Villuela (left)of Nairobi Chess Club takes on Jordi Herms Agullo of Granollers Club D’Escacs at the Goan Gymkhana. Githinji Hinga of Mini Chess Kenya looks on. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

Logo of the Granollers Chess Club,

Logo of the Granollers Chess Club,

Over the board chess

Nairobi Chess Club’s last OTB event was the 10th Capablanca Cup Chess Tournament that was held in February 2020.  The winner of that event was FM Patrick Kawuma of Uganda.

OTB Chess tournaments in Kenya are expected  to resume once the Ministry of Health gives Chess Kenya the green light for close contact sports to resume.

You may also like...