By Kim Bhari
www.kenyachessmasala.com
IM Elijah Emojong of Uganda proved that he is the undisputed “King of East African Chess” when he cruised to a comfortable 6.5/7 in the 2017 Mombasa International Open Chess Tournament that came to an end yesterday.
The Prestige Section of this event was a tough 7 round event that had 9 participants in total. The average rating of this Prestige Section was a whopping 2030 making this one of East Africa’s strongest events in recent history. 
IM Elijah Emojong of Uganda receives his prize from former 4 times World Chess Champion Vishwanathan Anand at the closing ceremony.
IM Elijah Emojong went home with a first prize of KES 100,000 (approximately USD 1,000) which is the biggest top prize in the region.
In 2nd place was fast rising FM Haruna Nsubuga of Uganda with 6/7 points who went home with KES 50,000 (USD 500). In 3rd place was FM Harold Wanyama also of Uganda with 5.5 points who won KES 25,000 (USD 250). 
Final ranking of the Prestige Section in the 2017 Mombasa International Chess Open.
The Open Section of this event had a total of 43 players and was won by Fred Okiring of Uganda with 6.5/7 points and who went home with KES 50,000 (USD 500).
In 2nd place was fast rising Geoffrey Mulaga of Eastlands Chess Club who ended up with 6/7 to go home with KES 25,000 (USD 250).
Pre-tournament favourite James Panchol faded away to 3rd place with 5.5/7 points to take a cash prize of KES 12,500 (USD 125). 
Happy winners from left Tom Amwai holding trophy for Best U1600, Alvin Mbithi with medal for best on 2nd Board U16 Team Championship and James Panchol 3rd place in Open section.
Winners in the other sections were as follows:
Ladies – Joyce Nyaraui with 5.5/7
U18 – Gideon Mtango with 6/7
U16 – Titus Kennedy Musembi with 7/7
U14 – Noor Mohamed Harunany with 7/7
U12 – Arul Samesh with 6/7
U10 – Reeyan Gosrani with 6.5/7
U8 – Drish Rakesh Shah with 6.5/7 
Happy winner Viraj Shah gets his prize from former World Chess Champion GM Viswanathan Anand of India at the closing ceremony.
Adding glitz and glamour to this event was the presence of 4 times former World Chess Champion GM Vishwanathan Anand and world renown chess photographer David Llada.
The master at work. World renown chess photographer David Llada busy at work while his daughter Nahui and Yvonne Mwashe looks on. Photo credit Paras Gudka.
Some great photos by David Llada from this event can be found on David Llada’s photos of Mombasa Open.
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IM Elijah Emojong wins the 2017 Mombasa International Open Chess Tournament
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