Chess team for FISU World University Mind Championship takes shape

Victoria University’s Gloria Nansubuga and Makerere University’s Emmanuel Musasizi collected 7 points apiece to lead the last round of the chess qualifiers for team Uganda at Makerere University on Sunday.

Woman Fide Master (WFM) Nansubuga and Candidate Master (CM) Musasizi topped the women and men categories as a result and headed into the residential training as the top players.

Uganda’s chess team to the FISU World University Mind Championship to be held at the Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe, June 25–30, is dominated by students from Makerere and Victoria University.

Raymond Seruwu (2nd left) takes on Emmanuel Musasizi (seated right) during one of the qualifiers for World Mind Sports Championships at Makerere University. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Apart from Nansubuga, Victoria University also has Stella Babirye on the women’s team as well as Richard Kato and Mark Wasswa Nyola on the men’s team.

Esther Nampiima, Margaret Nassiwa Musoke, Musasizi, Collins Alinda, and Raphael Kabuye are the players on the team from Makerere.

According to AUUS General Secretary Patrick Ssebuliba, this will be the fourth time that chess has been played in the World Mind Championship, which has attracted 20 countries.

“This is a very important event for Uganda and whenever we host events, we emerge champions so the onus is on you to maintain those standards,” Ssebuliba told the players.

The Uganda Chess Team for the World University Mind Championship pose with officials after the last round of qualifiers at Makerere University. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Uganda Chess Federation president Emmanuel Mwaka said they were going to deploy coaches to sharpen the players ahead of the championship.

He said the event was going to be rated and urged the players to put up their best.

“We had to go through a qualifier but we have been training on our own and as a team so that we can give our best at the championship. We are ready and promise to do better than what we produced in Belgium last time out,” Musasisizi said.

Top four ladies

Gloria Nansubuga (VU) 7pts

Esther Nampiima (MUK) 5.5

Margaret Nassiwa Musoke (MUK) 5.5

Stella Babirye (VU) 5.5

Top five men

Emmanuel Musasizi (MUK) 7pts

Richard Kato (VU) 6pts

Mark Wasswa Nyola (VU) 6pts

Collins Alinda (MUK) 5.5
Raphael Charity Kabuye (MUK) 5.5