AFTER a tight World Chess Olympiad qualification showdown, the battle of wits turns to the Mulago End-of-year Championship at Lugogo today.
All Uganda’s top players have confirmed participation in the 3rd edition of the tournament whose winner will pocket sh0.3m. Mulago Chess Club patron William Zirembuzi has sponsored the tournament to the tune of sh1m.
Defending champion Moses Kawuma, Hassan Mulambe, Bob Bibasa, Grace Nsubuga and Harold Wanyama are expected to feature prominently in the 10-round Swiss format contest.
Kenyan Ben Magana who finished second in the previous edition and his compatriots Ben Ngugu, Larry Kadduli and Phillip Singe have expressed interest in challenging their Ugandan counterparts in the tournament.
Four rounds will be played this weekend and the tournament will resume next weekend with another four rounds. The competition ends on January 6.
Uganda Chess Federation secretary Godfrey Gali explained that the tournament was spread over two weeks to make it convenient to the majority of the competitors with busy work schedules.
The winner of the women contest will earn sh0.15m while junior champion will pocket sh30,000.
Women are also eligible to win prizes in the Open category.
Chess battle at Lugogo
