PIC: Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Maria Nakanyike. (Credit: Michael Nsubuga)

CHESS   

KAMPALA - Uganda Sports Press Association Chess Player of the Year 2017 Maria Nakanyike has been invited to compete in the World Cadet Chess Championships. 

The 2018 championships will take place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, November 3-16.

The 12-year old  St. Marcelino Academy pupil will have a chance to compete against some of the world’s best chess players from around the world in the tournament meant for the under 8,10 and12 years old – open boys and girls.

But the youngster and her coach Augustine Buwule are now grappling with sponsorship to the event in air tickets for two valued at $1780 (sh7m) and a compulsory registration fee of 100 euros (sh444, 000/-) before the September 3 registration deadline. The 11-round tournament will be played using the Swiss system.

“Nakanyike’s star can only continue to rise and it is from such tournaments that she needs to pick valuable experience in order to represent the country better at future events, so we welcome any kind of support from individuals and the corporate world,” Buwule noted.

An African Youth Chess Championship also awaits the youngster in Kisumu in August where she will be entered to compete against boys

Nakanyike a FIDE Woman Candidate Chess Master, last year won gold on board one during the primary national schools and national juniors champion under 14 years girls category and was also a silver medalist during the african schools chess championship in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, following her recognition by the Makerere University Business School Women Forum in March, her school is planning a tour of MUBS with 150 children and teachers in tow.