Chess meet off to good start

Africa individual chess championship

FIDE Master FM Patrick Kawuma raised Uganda's hopes of winning the Africa Individual Chess Championship that started  Sunday at Tick Hotel in Kawempe, Kampala with a tightly contested draw against the top seed.

Kawuma rated at a lower (2247) with the black pieces, weathered the storm against a higher rated Egyptian Grand Master (GM) Adley Ahmed (2607). Kawuma maneuvered to a draw with a Kings Indian defense, and even had some good chances to win against the much fancied Egyptian.

Lady luck smiled upon Uganda as the national contingent was stretched from 10 to 12 due to an odd number of total players from 11 countries at the event. This has enabled players Rajab Kamoga and Shakira Ampaire to make the national team.

There was more good news as Harold Wanyama drew first blood for Uganda with a win against Somali international Abdulkadir Ahmed Mohammed, while Farouk Fauza, who fell to Egyptian Hesham Abdelrahman.

By press time, Arthur Ssegwanyi looked likely to squeeze out a second win for Uganda against Kenya's James Madol with better developed pieces. Gonza Simon was taking on Zambia's Andrew Kayonda with both players struggling to dismantle a pawn lock up in the middle of the board.

Uganda's female players; Gorreti Angolikin, Joyce Kabengano, Shakira Ampaire, Christine Namaganda, Stella Babirye and Gloria Nansubuga were still engaged in tough games by press time, with Nansubuga (1445) looking good for at least a draw against a higher rated South African Anzel Laubscher (1797).

Laubscher, a Woman International Master (WIM) is the 2015 South African Women's Open winner. However, she only had a pawn more than Nansubuga in the end game. The Ugandan stood a good chance with her Rook, and Bishop against the South Africans Rook, Knight and trapped extra pawn.

Speaking after the draw, Kawuma said: "I kept setting traps and obviously, he (Ahmed) did not fall into them. After exchanging pieces, we realized that none of us could easily win the game so we had to settle for a draw. I think it was a good start for me against the highest rated player at the tournament."

Wanyama noted that titles count for little at the Championship and that the Ugandan contingent is capable of beating the Grand Masters to the top prize. "Everyone at this tournament is strong. I am happy with the win in my first game, but the battle is just starting. It is not yet time to celebrate," he said.

"Our strategy is to focus on one game at a time, round by round; we are not thinking of the end product right now," he added.

There are 11 countries represented at the Chess meet with 30 men and about 22 women. The number of men could rise to 32 with an additional player representing Botswana expected today.

Vianney Luggya, the Uganda Chess Federation president noted that the tournament will also feature training for chess referees (Arbiters) between 18th to 23rd July. The trainees from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe will be trained by the Chief Arbiter at the tournament from Iceland and Uganda's Stephen Kisuze.

"This tournament is special for many reasons. This is the highest prize money we have ever had at chess Championship in Uganda ($20,000). The Average rating of players is high (2400) so the overall winner will have to work really hard," he said.

"We will also have training for arbiters, and the 10 Ugandan trainees, should they pass the exams will increase the number of certified arbiters (4)," he added. This is the first time a Ugandan will be co-trainer at a FIDE event.