Nyanza chess sensation targets national glory

Gibo Zachary

 @PeopleDailyKe

Ten-year-old chess sensational Travis Indika has his eyes on the national title at this year’s Kenya National Youth and Cadets Chess Championship to be held in Mombasa, once sporting activities resume following the coronavirus shutdown.

The Class Five pupil at Set Green Hill Academy in Kisii County, was the star during the Nyanza South Regional Chess Championship where he won gold in the Under-12 category.

Indika won five of the six rounds in the contest while drawing the other to emerge champion. “Chess is my thing and I fell in love with it even without noticing.

One day, I took my mother’s laptop and found the game already installed and started playing but as a kid it was only for fun,” said Indika, who would later grow fond of the game that his mother, Linet Ngare, could not detach him from the laptop.

While on a picnic, Indika and his mother bumped into Saphinnah Kenyando, a chess enthusiast, and his interest for the game grew even further. 

It turned out Kenyando was not only playing the game for fun but is also  an official. She is the Chess Kenya, Nyanza South coordinator.

Kenyando was impressed with Indika’s love for chess and took him in, teaching him more about the game and is now reaping the fruits.

“Indika is not only a chess star, he is a great swimmer too,” his mother told People Sport.