How a Kenyan can become a chess Grand Master

The Grade Eight pupil at Moi Primary and Junior School, Kabarak in Nakuru County, topped the standings with an impressive 23 points, flooring several big names, including former national champions Ben Magana, Martin Njoroge, Mehul Gohil, and Kenneth Omolo.

Simiyu has expressed his desire to attain the IM title within the next three years and GM while still a junior.

Other notable Kenyan chess players tipped to become world masters are 20-year-old Candidate Master Robert Mcligeyo, 10-year-old Nathaniel Manyeki, who won a gold medal in the Under-10 Open Section category at the 2025 Africa Youth Chess Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, in December, and his 12-year-old sister Winnie Kaburo, who is the country’s youngest ever Woman Candidate Master (WCM).

The rest are top-ranked 18-year-old Kaloki Hawi, 15-year-old Kuka Kyle, who finished second in the Open Section at the 2025 KNCC, 14-year-old WCM Elizabeth Cassidy, Bella Nashipae, 14, and Kaloki Zuri, 15.

But what does it take for a player to attain either the IM or GM titles and what are the benefits of holding these prestigious honours?

In international chess, GM is the highest honour, followed by IM.

Also Read: Jadon Simiyu: Kenya’s youngest ever national chess champion

The third title is Fide Master, and then Candidate Master.

FM remains the highest chess honour to be achieved by a Kenyan.

Simiyu and veterans Martin Gateri and Stephen Ouma are the country’s three FMs. There are two ways of attaining the chess titles - reaching the set Fide elo ratings, and achieving a certain result in a Fide-sanctioned tournament that offers the title or getting the required number of norms for that specific title while also meeting the minimum Fide elo ratings for that title.

Fide elo ratings are a numerical measure of a chess player’s past performance and estimated playing strength, while a norm is a high-level performance in a tournament that proves one can play at the level of the title to be awarded.

According to the first criterion explained above and which is considered the shortest in achieving the chess titles, one is awarded the GM title upon meeting the minimum Fide elo ratings of 2500, and winning a gold medal in a tournament that offers the title.

These include the Africa Individual Chess Championship, World Junior Chess Championship, and World Youth Chess Championship U-18 category. In the second criteria, beyond crossing the ratings of 2500, one must get at least three GM norms.

For IM title, one must reach a rating of at least 2300 and finish in a position that offers the title in a Fide-sanctioned tournament.

These include winning a silver or gold medal at the Africa Individual Chess Championship, World Junior Chess Championship and World Youth Chess Championship U-18 category or clinching a gold medal either at the Africa Junior Chess Championship or Africa Youth Chess Championship U-18 category.

The other criteria for attaining the IM title are by obtaining three IM norms while at 2300 ratings.

Also Read: Why Nathaniel Manyeki, 10, could be the biggest thing on Kenya's chess scene

Hawi, who is currently the top-ranked Kenyan player, has a rating of 2165. In a recent interview with Nation Sport, Swedish GM Pontus Carlsson said several Kenyan players, including Mcligeyo, Manyeki and Simiyu stands a good chance of attaining the two prestigious titles.

But he cautioned that it will only be possible if the players compete in several top tournaments abroad – a very expensive task. A player would have to cater for their air ticket, accommodation and upkeep.

Also Read: Equal prize for male and female winners at Kenya Chess Championship

“Unfortunately, there is no infrastructure in Kenya to become an IM or GM. You need to have tournaments where you can achieve norms and as far as I know, we don’t have a single norm tournament on Kenyan soil so unfortunately it is impossible to become an IM or GM playing in Kenya,” he stated, calling on the government, Chess Kenya and corporate firms to support the players to attain the titles by sponsoring their trips abroad.

Carlsson noted that he prefers the traditional route to chess titles, which includes attaining the minimum ratings required and achieving the norm,s as it carries greater respect.

“For me, it is very important that people become complete GM, not just one good result in the African championship, because it is not the same as if you have scored all the norms and gone the long way. You will not be looked at the same way, some people will say you are not a real GM,” he said.

But is eating healthy and being physically fit a requirement in being a strong chess player? "You definitely need the energy to play well, especially here in Kenya, where one can play up to three matches in a day. You should not eat a heavy pizza before a game it will make you tired and not alert. It is important eat something that will give you enough energy and make you feel good. Alcohol is not recommended ahead of a tournament,” he advised.

The Swede noted the GM and IM titles come with a lot of financial benefits which include sponsorship from big corporate companies and being paid handsomely to feature in tournaments.

“If you are a GM or IM, you can be 100 per cent sure that you will live well as a professional player. You get a lot of invitations to tournaments, and so financially, there is a big difference,” he said.