Nsubuga and Omprakash top Zabasajja Memorial Chess Championship

Chess FIDE Master (FM) Haruna Nsubuga on Sunday won the 2024 Zabasajja Memorial Chess Championship after he reaped 7.5 points at the four-day Grand Prix.

Nsubuga also walked away with Sh2.5m as the top prize for the tournament in the open category.

He beat a field of 150 players and also qualified for the Grand Prix round of 14 where five players will be selected to represent the country in the 2024 Olympiad in March in India.

International Master (IM) Arthur Ssegwanyi finished second and bagged sh1.5m at 7.0 points as South Sudan's Gong Thong Gong walked away with a bronze medal in third place and a cash prize of sh75m at 6.5 points.

Fide Master (FM) Harold Wanyama was fourth and got Sh0.25m.

In the women category, Sana Omprakash Kayyar won the field on a count back against Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Shakira Ampaire who settled for sh0.925m and 0.775m respectively.

The two were tied at 6.5 points each but Sana won on a tie break having achieved the accolade first.

Ronald Wabwire (9) was the best junior in the boys as Zuri Tatiina led in the girls and each bagged a plaque, a gold medal and a cash prize of sh0.1m.

The tournament was held in memory of the late William Zabasajja, the first Ugandan FIDE Master (FM) who passed on in 1989 having won five national championships.

Players competed in the open category for the men and women as the juniors competed from the age of 8 to 18 years.

The National Council of Sports was the main sponsor of the event according to Uganda Chess Federation president Emmanuel Mwaka.

Winners

Open Category

Men

Gold- FM Haruna Nsubuga 7.5 points

Silver – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi 7.0

Bronze – Gong Thong Gong 6.5

Women

Gold- Sana Omprakash Kayyar 6.5 Points

Silver – WCM Shakira Ampaire 6.5

Mary Kevin Ndagire 6.0

Best Junior Men

Gold – Ronald Wabwire 5 .0 Points

Best Junior Women

Zuri Tatiina 4.5 Points

Best above 50 years

Gold – Jeffrey Kikabi 4.5 Points

Silver – Joseph Kaamu 4.0

Other Winners Boys

U-08 - Elvis Tumusiime 4.0 Points

U-10- Mathias Mugenyi 4.5

U-12 – Kari Kwezi Katongole 4.0

U-14- Rugunda Madiba 5.0

U-16 – Jair Jason Muwanguzi 6.0

U-18 – Enoc Kisakye Kiyingi 5.0

Girls

U-08- Latifar Mwaka 3.0 Points

U-10- Sandra Mukasa Mpairwe 3.0

U-12 – Kirabo Anabeli Mawererre 4.0

U-14 – Susan Namukobe – 4.0

U-16- Victor Deus Muwanguzi 4.5

U-18- Zuri Tatiina 4.5