For his age group, ten-year-old Christian Mugambi is the best chess player in the country.

As he lays the groundwork for the Africa Individual Schools Championships (AISCC) to be held between December 8 and 19 in Monrovia, Liberia, he feels he can become the best on the continent.

Well, that coming from a lad  who has only been in the sport for barely a full calendar season might sound overly ambitious, but Mugambi who started playing the sport in November 2021 is determined to prove everyone wrong.

The grade four pupil at St Mary’s Sportsview Academy Nairobi was among the over 1900 participants who took part in the Kenya Schools National Chess Championships that were held at the Moi Girls High School in Eldoret in the past week.

Speaking to People Sport, Mugambi revealed he wants to keep learning the trade so that he can one day become the best in the world.

Determination is his answer when asked what drives him.

He added: “I feel that my commitment to my goal of being an African champion is paying off. I am excited to win the Kenyan championship and look forward to many more victories.”

Trying something new is how he got into the sport and he has never looked back.

“Christian wanted to try another challenge after being top in Skating in Kenya. A friend invited him to a chess tournament that was to be held in Village market Nairobi. He trained for the tournament and was in position 21. It dawned on him that He had a good challenge ahead. This motivated him to train harder,” his father Samuel Mugambi said.

 Why Chess someone could ask, and the schoolboy has answered, “ The reality of chess is different – it actually is an incredibly beneficial pastime, because playing chess results in better brain function, improved memory and cognitive abilities. Strategic thinking, and attention improvement. Chess has also made me good in academics.” said the junior, tutored by Ishmael Shuaib, a fourth-year student at KCA University.