Fide Master Harold Wanyama‘s second place finish at the recently concluded Uganda Open Chess Championship has him lead this year’s Grand Prix standings after just two tournaments.
Wanyama and the rest of the players are seeking to make the national team for next year’s international engagements, and according to the standings released by the local chess governing body, Uganda Chess Federation, he leads with 45 points.
The Chess Federation consider performance from different tournaments (as per this year, five) to select the national team.
Players garner points from these tournaments, and by the end of it all, those whose points place them in the top five positions get to represent Uganda at the Africa Zonal Championships next year.
Wanyama who also doubles as the national team coach finished second in both the Katinti Memorial Open and the Uganda Open hence his current position.
Three more tournaments including Rwabushenyi Memorial and Kireka Open that will be played later this year will determine the final top five that will represent Uganda at the Zonals.
As for the international competitions, the top twelve in the Grandprix have to compete against a selected Junior Champion (Male and Female) plus a wild card (Open and Ladies) in the Super 14 Round Robin as a National Championship Qualifier.
The top five from each category in this Qualifier will formulate the national team.
Current Standings
Alongside Wanyama, reigning Uganda Open Champion FM Patrick Kawuma, CM Emmanuel Egesa, Abdul Shakur Wagodo and Rajab Kamoga make the current top five in the Open section.
In the Ladies section, Patricia Kawuma, winner of the Kantinti Memorial leads the standings with 48 points.
She is joined by Milly Takali (Uganda Open Champion), Safinah Mugide, Esther Sandra Nalunga and Zuri Tatiina in the top five.
Gong Thon Gong from South Sudan was crowned the champion of the Kantinti Memorial Open in the men’s category after drawing with FM Patrick Kawuma in the final round.
Courtesy Photos
