Uganda Junior Chess players show promise at Africa Youth Chess Championship

Uganda Junior Chess team that represented the country recently at the Africa Youth Chess Championship put up a promising display that they hope to build on in future tournaments.

Participating only in their second international tournament for some, the Ugandans were rewarded with a silver medal and the Candidate Master title won by Victor Kanyike in the U-14 category.

Kanyike amazed with stunning chess play against the traditionally strong Afro-Arab nations and South Africa. Uganda also celebrated a top five finish for three other players with nine of the nineteen members of the team taking positions in the top ten in their respective age categories.

Rising star Edwin Pido took fifth place in Under 12 Open, while Ssubi Kiwanuka in the Under 8 Open missed out on a Candidate Master title and bronze medal by a single point. Woman Candidate Master Maria Nakanyike also faced stiff competition finishing sixth in Under 12 girl's as did Abel Matovu who missed his first game travelling to the tournament but managed to claw back to take sixth place in the U-18. 

First time international players Daniel Dokoria (U12), Tandeke Shiloh (U10), Zuri Tatiina (U10) and Elizabeth Atim (U10) fought to win difficult points for team Uganda against seasoned players, showing potential for success at future events.

"This performance clearly shows Uganda's potential, all our children scored a point which is usually hard in such international events, moreover at a first showing. There is a lot of pressure and it is very intimidating especially for young ones,"

"Whereas in other countries chess is part of their school curriculum, and they hold regular high standard school tournaments, for example players from South Africa can play over 20 events in a single year. In Uganda we are not yet there, but we have given them a good run this year. We have studied their strategies and plan to take the podium by storm next year if we can get proper support and equipment," team Coach John Mukalazi reasoned.

The Africa Chess Federation announced that chess is now an Olympic sport, and is scheduled to feature in the 2020 Olympics, underscoring the need to nurture chess in Uganda's youth.

While Uganda is currently ninth on the continent in chess rankings, and the junior chess fraternity waits to hear from worldwide body FIDE, which country will host in 2019, plans are already underway to start preparing to participate and deliver even better results for Uganda.

Parents and guardians pledged continue to investing in training the various players. There is hope for more well-wishers to join team sponsors New Vision Group, Monitor Publications, Kiboko Group, Kampala Casino, the North Green School and City Parents Primary School in ensuring the team prepare adequately and travel to the 2019 event according to Grace Kiwanuka one of the ‘chess parents'.