Kawuma, Kantinti sparkle in chess Olympiad tourney

By William Muwonge

Chess Olympiad qualifiers
Third Phase; Round 4
M. Kawuma 3 points
S. Kantinti 3
H. Mulambe 2.5
G. Nsubuga 2.5
I. Munanira 2.5
B. Bibasa 2
S. Kawuma 2
H. Wanyama 1.5
E. Kabuye 1.5
W. Zabasajja 1.5
E. Mwaka 1.5
K. Kakooza 0.5

NATIONAL champion Moses Kawuma and Shadrack Kantinti made a good impression as the final phase of the chess Olympiad qualifiers started at the weekend.

Kawuma just like his rival won two games and drew the other two to go joint top at Lugogo.

The Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) event will have four more rounds this weekend ahead of the last three a week later.

The top six players will qualify for the Olympiad to run in Turin, Italy from late May to June.

“It is a tight contest, players are well prepared and to qualify, one would need to have at least six points,” UCF’s Godfrey Gali said. “The top two have a good chance, they started off well.”

Kawuma made a debut at the world’s biggest chess event in 2004 while Kantinti has been there before.