Kireka Chess Club make slow start to new season

National Chess League
 
Results, top ten
DMARK Chess Club         10points
Crestals Chess                9
Mulago Knights Chess      8.5
Chess Warriors                7.5
Kireka Chess - Team A     7
SOM Katwe                     7
Lweza Chess                   6
Gambit                           6.5
SOM Nateete                   6.5
Comrades Chess               6.5
 
Kireka Chess Club made a slow start to their National Chess League title defence on Sunday in Kampala.

The champions who have registered two teams (A and B) in the league this season, settled for fifth place on the table with 7 points after the opening two rounds of the season.
 
In the first round, FIDE Master Haruna Nsubuga, Simon Gonza, Edger Ntende, and Esther Penninah Nannozi beat weak opponents, Tomothy Kassuja, Daniel Intwari, Caroline Lanyero and Resty Nalukwago from SOM chess Academy respectively to register a 4-1 victory.
 
Later in the second round, Kireka's board one player FM Harold Wanyama outwitted Bank of Uganda's Mathias Ssonko while Wanyama's teammates Nsubuga and Gonza beat Hassan Nyangabyaki and Neogy Sepuya respectively.
 
Despite, Kireka's board three and four players Ntende and Nannozi losing to David Muwanguzi and Grace Kigeni, the match ended 3-2 in favour of the defending champions.
 
Meanwhile, former champions DMark may have lost their best and Uganda's International Master (IM) Authur Ssegwanyi to Kireka during the transfer window but with their new signing, WFM Christine Namaganda, the team is still strong enough to reclaim their title.
 
Unlike their rivals Kireka, DMark have started well in the league and sit top of the table with 10 points.
 
Dmark now led by veteran player Bob Bibasa beat student Ndejje and Makindye 5-0 each.