By Aron Kinyamasyo
NAIROBI, July 25 (Safi News) – Chess is steadily shedding its image as an elite sport and gaining popularity among Kenyan children and youth, with the Nairobi Chess Club calling for more corporate sponsorship to sustain the game’s remarkable growth.
Speaking during a Rapid Chess Tournament in Nairobi on Saturday, Nairobi Chess Club Chairlady Ms. Nisha Bhavsar said the club has witnessed increased participation from players of all ages, particularly children, thanks to regular competitions and training programmes.
The game was conducted at Goan Gymkhana Sports Club in Ngara
Bhavsar said the tournament was made possible through sponsorship from Path to Russia NGO, whose support has enabled the club to continue organising competitive events that sharpen players’ skills.
“We encourage anyone interested in chess to start now. It is a game of patience, discipline and strategy that teaches valuable life skills,” she said.
She noted that one of the club’s biggest challenges is attracting enough sponsors to finance tournaments and youth development programmes, adding that more partnerships would help nurture the country’s emerging chess talent.
According to Bhavsar, young players are increasingly proving to be formidable competitors, demonstrating that chess is a game where age is no barrier to success.
In a special highlight of the event, five players competed simultaneously in a high-intensity exhibition match that drew attention from spectators and online audiences
The winners of such exhibition encounters are later recognised through structured awards presented by the club, where grandmasters and top performers are formally honoured for their excellence and contribution to the sport.
The Kenyan players were also seen competing today with a Russian opponent online at Goan Gyhamhko in Ngara, Nairobi, adding an international dimension to the event.
The club’s Treasurer, Kim Bhari, said chess has experienced tremendous growth in Kenya over the last decade, citing the recent Kenya National Youth Chess Championship that attracted about 8,000 participants from across the country.
Bhari said the Nairobi Chess Club, whose history dates back more than a century, currently has about 80 members and continues to organise weekly activities and four major tournaments annually.
He said the club has produced national champions, including three-time Kenya champion Mehul Gohil, but noted that high venue rental costs and limited access to affordable recreational facilities continue to hamper the club’s expansion.
Bhari appealed to both the government and the private sector to increase support for chess development, including sponsoring clubs to participate in African and international championships.
He also urged parents to introduce their children to chess, saying the game enhances concentration, analytical thinking and decision-making while promoting lifelong mental wellness.
Path to Russia NGO Assistant Project Manager and Coordinator Caroline Mweni said the organisation partnered with Nairobi Chess Club because it believes chess is an effective tool for empowering young people through education, discipline and critical thinking.
Mweni expressed optimism that more organisations would join hands in supporting chess initiatives to give more Kenyan children and youth opportunities to develop their talents and compete on the global stage.
Organisers further announced plans to introduce school-based chess leagues in Nairobi starting next year, a move expected to widen the talent pipeline and make the sport more accessible at the grassroots level.
With interest in the game continuing to rise across the country, stakeholders say stronger partnerships between clubs, sponsors and government agencies will be crucial in transforming Kenya into a regional chess powerhouse.