Brains battle at Junior Chess Tournament

For Vincent Buwule, a P 7 pupil at St. Marcelino Academy, Matuga, winning the U-12 category at the second edition of the Hisense Open Junior Tournament was another motivation to pursue higher heights for the young chess player aged 11.

In fact, at the tournament, Buwule, rated 1194 by Uganda Chess Federation, went on to register his first ever victory over his better rated sister Maria Nakanyike (1446) of U-14 at a finale that end 2.5-1.5 points to walk away with a 32inch Hisense flat screen TV on Sunday.

That was the most competitive encounter of the evening in the grand finale where champions from different categories meant for top prizes.

Kanyike and Serunjogi in the grand finale of U-16 vs U-18

The tournament over the weekend was a thrill for young ones who turned up to contest, their coaches, parents, and chess lovers. In a two-day affair at Arirang Hotel and restaurant, Nakasero, 315 children from different schools and chess academies around the country worked their intellects to tussle for championship in categories; U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18.

Champions from the five categories, in variations of boys and girls, were awarded medals and trophies. But the top most performers would then compete with their counterparts in other categories.

Participants in the tournament which attracted over 315 pupils

 
Grand Finale

Victor Kanyike (U-16) beat Wilson Serunjogi (under-18) on 1.5- 0.5

Vincent Buwule (U-12) beat Maria Nakanyike (U-14) on 3.5 - 2.5

Shiloh Tandeka (runner-up U-12) beat Shamira Nankabirwa (under-10) on 2-0

Kanyike and Buwule, who are brothers, went home with a 32 Hisense flat screen TV each while Tandeka took a mini Hisense fridge.

The winners with their prizes