Over 150 players have graced this year’s edition of the Kantinti Memorial Open Chess Championship that got underway on Thursday at Nob View Hotel in Ntinda.
From the national team coach, FM Harold Wanyama to the youngest Woman Candidate Master Maria Nakanyike, stars have honoured this inaugural event.
Two rounds were played on the opening day of the tournament which will run until Sunday 17th September 2023, and Wanyama ended the day as the table leader.
Wanyama alongside 33 other players won their opening two rounds, but due to the quality of his opposition (rating wise), he leads the standings heading into round three.
The 42-year-old will face Abdul Shakur Wagodo in the third round on Friday, and will likely face the top dogs in FM Patrick Kawuma, FM Haruna Nsubuga, IM Elijah Emojong in the subsequent rounds.
Hannah Zion Mawejje and Nakanyike are the only females that won both their opening two games.
The two are currently on a roll, but will both have a mountain to climb in the third round as the former who is rated 1406 will face Sudan’s Wech Adol Chol who is rated 1921.
Nakanyike on the other hand with a rating of 1405 will battle Robert Oluka rated 1993 from Kenya.
The Kantinti Memorial Championship is a tribute to one of the legends of this game Shadrach Kantinti who represented the country at the World Chess Olympiad between 1998 and 2018.
The Olympiad died in 2019 after suffering an acute liver failure.
This competition will not only be a tribute to the legend, it will also be used as a Qualifier for next year’s Olympiad in Hungary and next year’s All Africa Games due in Ghana in March.
Photo Credit: Uganda Chess Federation Media
