The KICC Rapids and Blitz 3rd Edition, held at KICC, Nairobi, concluded after a day of intense and exciting chess action. The tournament featured two high-speed sections: a Rapid category and a Blitz category, attracting players from across the region.
TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS AND LEADERSHIP
Organizers:
Arbitration Team:
- Lewis Magara
- Simon Njuguna
TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW:
The KICC Rapids and Blitz 3rd Edition was played over the course of one day with the following technical specifications:
- Rapid Section: 7 Rounds, Swiss System, Time control of 25 minutes per player.
- Blitz Section: 11 Rounds, Swiss System, Time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment from move one (3+2).
Participant Demographics:
- Total Participants- 107 for Rapids and 71 for Blitz
Champions Summary
Rapids:
| Section | Winner | Federation | Club/School | Prize Won |
| OPEN SECTION | ||||
| Winner | Kur Akut Deng | SSD | Pmadol Chess Club | Ksh.15,000 |
| 1st Runners Up | FM Peter Majur | SSD | Mavens Chess Club | Ksh.7,500 |
| 2nd Runners Up | Panchol James Madol | SSD | Pmadol Chess Club | Ksh.5,000 |
| 4th Place | Karani Ezekiel | KEN | UON | Ksh. 2,500 |
| 5th Place | Kalati Dennis | KEN | UON | Ksh.1,000 |
| LADIES SECTION | ||||
| Winner | Kimani Wanjiru | KEN | NCBA Loop | Ksh. 7,500 |
| 1st Runners Up | Gikandi Bernice Wambui | KEN | Soma International School | Ksh. 5,000 |
| 2nd Runners Up | Veronicah Matei | KEN | Strathmore University | Ksh. 3,000 |
| 4th Place | WCM Lucy Wanjiru | KEN | Ksh. 2,000 | |
| SPECIAL PRIZES | ||||
| Best Unrated Female | Ivy Rachier | KEN | Nairobi Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best Unrated Male | Yong Jacob Chol | SSD | Twist East Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best U1600 Male | Baraka Arunga | KEN | Mavens Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best U1600 Female | Winnie Kaburo | KEN | Mavens Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best Junior Male | Muli Faraja Mumo | KEN | Pmadol Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best Junior Female | Gilana Angel | KEN | Nairobi Primary School & JSS | Ksh. 2,000 |
Blitz:
| Section | Winner | Federation | Club/School | Prize Won |
| OPEN SECTION | ||||
| Winner | Muli Faraja Mumo | KEN | Pmadol Chess Club | Ksh.15,000 |
| 1st Runners Up | Ngony John Thon | SSD | Black Knight | Ksh.7,500 |
| 2nd Runners Up | Joseph Atwoli | KEN | Ksh.5,000 | |
| 4th Place | Hinga Githinji | KEN | Minichess Kenya | Ksh. 2,500 |
| 5th Place | FM Peter Majur | SSD | Mavens Chess Club | Ksh.1,000 |
| LADIES SECTION | ||||
| Winner | Fransisca Kagwiria | KEN | NACHA | Ksh. 7,500 |
| 1st Runners Up | Gikandi Bernice Wambui | KEN | Soma International School | Ksh. 5,000 |
| 2nd Runners Up | Ether Karanja | KEN | Knights Chess Academy | Ksh. 3,000 |
| 4th Place | WCM Lucy Wanjiru | KEN | Ksh. 2,000 | |
| SPECIAL PRIZES | ||||
| Best Unrated Female | Mitchelle Wambui Gichuga | KEN | Mountain View | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best Unrated Male | Dhangdit Garang | SSD | Kakuma Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best U1600 Male | Nderitu Njiriani | KEN | Ksh. 2,000 | |
| Best U1600 Female | Kimani Wanjiru | KEN | NCBA Loop | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best Junior Male | Manyeki Nathaniel | KEN | Mavens Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
| Best Junior Female | Kaburo Winnie | KEN | Mavens Chess Club | Ksh. 2,000 |
TOURNAMENT PROCEEDINGS
Preparation (Equipment and Furniture)
Primary preparation for the tournament took place on the evening of 6th February and morning of 7th February 2026. Organizers and the Arbitration team assisted in arranging the furniture and setting up the chess boards and clocks to ensure a professional environment for the players.
Pairings and Start Time
Pairings for Round One were completed promptly, and the tournament started on time as communicated in the tournament regulations.
Games
The tournament proceeded smoothly, without delays or major inconsistencies. The 25-minute Rapid games began at 9:00 AM and concluded at 4:00 PM, while the fast-paced 3+2 Blitz games, which commenced at 5:30 PM, provided a thrilling atmosphere for both participants and spectators.
Incidences and Other Observations
There were no major incidences during the games. All matters raised, particularly regarding the rapid time controls and rules, were addressed by the arbitration team conclusively.
Tournament Conclusion
The closing ceremony was held immediately following the conclusion of the final Blitz round. All winners were recognized and awarded their prizes by the organizing committee from Minichess Kenya and KICC.
CONCLUSION:
The KICC Rapids and Blitz 3rd Edition was well organized and completed successfully. The event continues to be a highlight for the chess community, and we look forward to an even bigger 4th edition.
APPENDIX: TOURNAMENT LINKS
For detailed individual results and standings for each category, please visit the official Tournament-Database of Chess-Results using the below links;
Report by:
IA Magara Lewis,
