INVITATION

MICROSOFT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2024

18 & 17TH FEBRUARY 2024

Venue
BROOKHOUSE SCHOOL, RUNDA

Chess Kenya Federation (CKF) in partnership with Microsoft has the honour to invite Chess
players from your school to participate in above prestigious tournament on 17th &18th
February 2024 at Brookhouse School Runda. Chess Kenya Federation (CKF) is the body
governing and developing Chess in Kenya. It is a registered sport under the Ministry of
Sports, Culture and the Arts, through the office of the sports registrar and it is the country’s
official Chess federation. Our office is located at Nanak house,2nd Floor, Kimathi Street
opposed Nation Media house, Nairobi CBD.

1. Eligibility for Participation:

The event is strictly invitational, only the schools listed below are invited and allowed
to enter a maximum of four (4) players only between the age of 14-18 years. The
tournament will be played in two major categories: Under 18 and 16 under.The list is
a follows:

School Number of
players invited
1. Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi 4
2. Kitengela International school 4
3. Nova pioneer School 4
4. Three Rivers Academy 4
5. Kianda School 4
6. Peponi school 4
7. Brookhouse School 4
8. Brookside Preparatory School 4
9. Braeburn Schools Nairobi and Nanyuki 4
10. St. Andrew's School, Turi 4
11. Rosslyn Academy 4
12. Hillcrest International School 4
13. Brookshine School 4
14. Greensteds International School 4
15. Kenton College Preparatory School 4
16. Kensington school 4
17. Crawford International school 4

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18. The Children's House 4
19. West Nairobi School 4
20. Gems Cambridge International School 4
21. German School Nairobi 4
22. Nairobi International School 4
23. Banda School 4
24. St. Christopher's International School, 4
Nairobi(SCIS)
25. Premier Academy 4
26. St. Mary's School, Nairobi 4
27. Rusinga School 4
28. Kipepeo International School 4
29. St. Austin's Academy 4
30. Light International School 4
31. Makini Cambridge school (CBC Section 4
excluded)
32. School of Nations 4
33. Oshwal Academy,Nairobi 4
34. Nairobi Academy 4
35. The Riara International School 4
36. French School,Nairobi 4
37. Potterhouse School 4
38. SABIS International School 4
39. Braeside School 4
40. Woodcreek School 4
41. Regis School,Runda 4
42. Shah Lalji International School 4
43. Melvin Jones Lions Academy School 4
44. Jawabu School 4
45. Noblegate International School 4
46. Consolata School 4
47. Strathmore School 4
48. Mudzini School 4
49. Cavina School 4
50. Rift Valley Academy 4
51. Fairmonts International School 4
52. Kent International School 4
53. Laiser Hill Academy 4
54. Kingdom International Premier school 4
55. Mustard Seed International School. 4
56. Lukenya Academy 4
57. Viraj International Academy 4
58. Nairobi Waldorf School 2
59. Shepherds Junior School 4
60. Brookhurst International School 4

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 Proof of age

If any doubt arises about the claimed age of a player, the Chief Arbiter has the right to
request player to produce birth certificate within a specified practical time frame. A
player if declared over-age shall be disqualified as a participant and his name will be
removed from list published in chess-results.

2. Registration:

a. Entry is free of charge to all participants will be done exclusively through email
provided within deadline.
b. The letter on school letterhead detailing the name of players, their gender, age, and
section they would like to take part should be send to chess Kenya through the email e-
mail [email protected] copied to [email protected]. Indicate
the contact person as well in the letter.
c. Deadline of registration 12th February 2024 at 6.00pm. It will not be extended for
planning purposes.

3. Meals and refreshment

Morning refreshment and lunch will be provided free of charge for two days.

4. System of Play:

i. The all invited players will participate in Swiss tournament of six (6) rounds under
FIDE Laws of Chess on first day
ii. The top 100 players in the first day will qualify for finals in the second day on
18th.

iii. Players from the same school should not be paired against each other in the last
round of the championship. However, they may be paired if there is no compatible
opponent with the same point group or score group with a maximum difference of
one (1) point. It is applicable only for the top 50% score of the penultimate round.
iv. Default Time: Default time for arriving to the chessboard is ten (10) minutes. The
chief Arbiter will announce when the default time has elapsed not based on
individual clocks.
v. Session: The rate of play shall be 30 minutes flat each player from move number
one.

5. Tie-breaks

The final ranking order of the players is determined by the number of points scored. If
two or more players are tied, position the tie shall be broken in the following order:

a. Direct Encounter points (applies only if all tied players have played
each other)
b. Greater Number of Wins
c. Buchholz Cut 1
d. Buchholz Cut 2
e. Greater Number of wins with Black Piece

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6. Appeals Committee:
Before the commencement of the championship, a 5-member Appeals Committee and
two (2) reserves selected will be formed by the Chief Arbiter. Protests, if any, against
the decision of the Chief Arbiter, shall be made in writing with a protest fee of Kes
5,000/= within ten (10) minutes of the occurrence of the incident. The amount shall be
refunded if the appeal is upheld.

7. Playing Area
i. Players & spectators can only enter the playing area with the permission of an arbiter.
Players can only leave the playing area with the permission of an arbiter, otherwise, they
risk being penalized with respect to Article 11 and 12 of the FIDE Laws of Chess.
Photographing with permission of the player is only allowed first five minutes of the
round.

ii. A player must not hold discussions with other players & spectators, inside or outside the
playing hall, if their game is still going on. Players found holding such discussions will
be penalized with respect to FIDE Anti -Cheating regulations and Article12 of the FIDE
Laws of Chess.

iii. Once a player’s game is finished and results recorded by the arbiter, the player may be
permitted by the arbiter a grace period to watch other games. Once the arbiter requests
the player to leave the playing hall, the player must leave the hall immediately.

iv. Players must not leave their board before submitting their results to the arbiter.

8. FIDE Anti-Cheating Measures and Guidelines

a. In accordance with the FIDE Anti-cheating measure and guidelines, players may be
subjected to inspection before the beginning of the games, if need be, and a player can
be inspected/frisked during a game on request.

b. Any situation that may be deemed to raise suspicion, the arbiter or a person authorized
by the arbiter shall inspect the player and shall be of the same gender as the player. If a
player refuses to cooperate with these obligations, the arbiter shall take measures in
accordance with Article 1
c. Electronic Devices - Players must not use electronic devices in the playing hall, or
during games, all electronic devices are to be left with the Chief Arbiter. Arbiters must
not use electronic devices in the playing hall during games except those used for
arbitration purposes.

d. Players will not be allowed to have wrist watches (all types of watches) in the playing
hall
e. Players found with electronic devices (whether switched on or off) will lose the game
immediately, if their game is already completed, the player will not be paired in the next
round
f. Further action will be sought through to the Appeal Committee with respect to Anti-
Cheating regulations; this may include withdrawal from the tournament.
9. Interpretation:

For interpretation of the Rules and deciding any point not covered by Rules, the
decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding. The Appeals Committee
has every right to make any additional or amendment to these rules without prior
Notice. However, such changes or inclusion will be subject to Chess Kenya Federation
clearance. Such changes, however, will be displayed at the Championship venue.

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 10. Prizes, Medals/Merit Certificates:
a. Top 2 boys and 2 girls will earn a wild card to join the national team as additional player
to participate in Africa youth Chess Championship 2024 to be held in Johannesburg,
South Africa in month of June. More details to be availed later.
b. All players will receive certificate of participation.
c. Winners will be awarded great prizes; more communication will follow this invitation.

It is mandatory for all the participants to attend the Closing Ceremony to collect their respective
prizes and certificates

11. Photography

By registering your child to this tournament, you give express Consent that any photo
taken of your child while competing in the event can be used by Chess Kenya to promote
events or produce Chess promotional materials.

All photographs taken during this tournament will not be used for commercial purposes
without seeking permission from CKF. In addition, by taking photos in this event, all
photographers waive copy rights to Chess Kenya using any photo taken during the event
promotion of chess unless a photographer write to Chess Kenya before the event to have
to have copy rights applied.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION

i. Rodah Etole
Chess Kenya Gender & Special Interest Secretary
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 0725 – 68 00 43

ii. Gilbert Wandera

Email:
[email protected]
Mobile: 0722784194

iii. Benard Wanjala

Chess Kenya President
Email:
[email protected]
Mobile: 0727 - 59 12 46

iv. John Mukabi

Chess Kenya Secretary General
Email:secretarychesskenya@gmail
.com
Mobile: 0721-65 30 40

Thank you

Yours faithfully,

BENARD WANJALA
CHESS KENYA PRESIDENT