Home Chess News Methu Victorious at Inaugural Unplug & Play Blitz Championship

Methu Victorious at Inaugural Unplug & Play Blitz Championship

by Paras Gudka
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Joseph Methu danced his way to victory when he beat nine (9) fellow competitors at the inaugural Unplug & Play Blitz Championship having garnered 14.5 points from 18 rounds. Following him in second place was Mehul Gohil who missed the top prize of KES 2,000 by 1 point.

Joseph Methu receives KES 2,000 from Unplug & Play's Penny Nyambura

Joseph Methu receives KES 2,000 from Unplug & Play’s Penny Nyambura

Mehul Gohil receives KES 1,000 from Penny

Mehul Gohil receives KES 1,000 from Penny

This was Motochess Ventures’ first ever FIDE rated blitz tournament and was held at The Alchemist Bar on Sunday, 18th June. The tournament was a part of the Unplug & Play series of events where Nairobi’s hipsters come together to bond over board games on the third Sunday of every month at Westlands’ most vibrant event space for the creatively inclined.

The Alchemist Bar attracts a trendy and diverse crowd

The Alchemist Bar attracts a trendy and diverse crowd

A total of 10 players—featuring some of Kenya’s finest such as Mehul Gohil and former Chess Kenya Chairman Githinji Hinga—competed in this first edition. They were:

  1. Mehul Gohil (2089)
  2. Githinji Hinga (1981)
  3. Bryan Toboso (1867)
  4. Ben Nguku (1863)
  5. Ricky Sang (1859)
  6. Brian Kidula (1841)
  7. Joseph Methu (1835)
  8. James Panchol (1782)
  9. Gilbert Kimutai (1432)
  10. Joseph Kirega (1291)
KCB's Ricky Sang (in striped t-shirt) and Ben Nguku (in white shirt) deep in thought about their next moves

KCB’s Ricky Sang (in striped t-shirt) and Ben Nguku (in white shirt) deep in thought about their next moves

A marathon 18 rounds were played in Double Round Robin format where all participants got to face each other with both colours, removing all doubt of who the strongest blitzer of the evening was.

Final Standings:

  1. Joseph Methu – 14.5 pts
  2. Mehul Gohil – 13.5 pts
  3. Ben Nguku – 13 pts
  4. Githinji Hinga – 11 pts
  5. Joseph Kirega – 8.5 pts
  6. Ricky Sang – 8 pts
  7. James Panchol – 7.5 pts
  8. Bryan Toboso – 7 pts
  9. Brian Kidula – 7 pts
  10. Gilbert Kimutai – 0 pts

The next edition of Unplug & Play Blitz Championship happens on 16th July.

(All photos courtesy of Unplug & Play)

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