Ssegwanyi makes Chess World Cup debut against Dutch star

Sep 11, 2015

Uganda’s second International Master (IM) Arthur Ssegwanyi is set for a do or die encounter as the Chess World Cup starts Friday at Fairmont Baku Hotel in Azerbaijani.

By David Namunyala

Chess World Cup, Azerbaijani

Friday

Round One; 10am

Ssegwanyi (UGA) v Giri (NED)

 
Uganda’s second International Master (IM) Arthur Ssegwanyi is set for a do or die encounter as the Chess World Cup starts Friday at Fairmont Baku Hotel in Azerbaijani.

Ssegwanyi rated 2357 is also Uganda’s best and Africa’s 26th ranked player, will start his campaign on table four as he battles Netherlands Grandmaster (GM) Anish Giri on Friday.

The 27-year-old is seeded 125 out of 128 participants while his opponent, Giri is the fourth highest rated player at the event with a rating of 2793. Both athletes are making their first appearance at the World Cup.

During the flag off at the National Council of Sports (NCS) on Monday, Ssegwanyi told New Vision, “I am very prepared to take him on. He would be better positioned but I am not scared to take him down.”

“If I can’t beat him then at least I will fight for a draw,” Ssegwanyi said as he recollected his victory against Egyptian Grandmaster El Gindy Essam during the Africa Zone 4.2 Chess Championships that were held in Kampala early this year.

It was at the same championship that Ssegwanyi secured a slot at the world stage after emerging champion with 7.5 points out of a possible nine.

There shall be six rounds comprising of two games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round. The seventh round that is also a final will comprise of four games.

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