Gong Thon Gong from South Sudan secured his first Kireka Open Chess Championship title after beating Fide Master Haruna Nsubuga on a tiebreaker on Sunday.
Gong lost his fourth round to lowly rated Norman Magino, but after recovering from that loss, and going ahead to stun record winner IM Arthur Ssegwanyi in the final round, the South Sudanese took his point tally to seven.
However, Nsubuga who outcompeted IM Elijah Emojong in the sixth round and who drew against Ssegwanyi in the penultimate round had also accumulated seven points which put him above Gong in the table standings on a tiebreak.
In such situations, a player with a better tiebreak usually wins the competition which in this case meant Nsubuga would be crowned champion, but it was not the case on Sunday.
The two were made to face off in what was termed as a tiebreaker game and Gong came out tops.
Nsubuga had to settle for silver, and his quest for a first Kireka Open title will have to continue.
Ssegwanyi who entered the competition as not only the top ranked player but also the defending champion finished sixth- his worst finish at the Kireka Open as it was the first time he was finishing below third.
After his loss to Nsubuga, Emojong recovered to win his remaining two games that propelled him to a podium finish.
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In the Ladies section, Peninah Nakabo like her husband was dethroned. Nakabo – the 2022 champion – won both her last two games, but having lost to the eventual winner Sana Omprakash Kayyar in the sixth round, she could only garner 6 points.
Omprakash won all but one game to finish with 7 points. Nakabo had to settle for the second position while WFM Gloria Nansubuga came third with 5.5 points.
In the Juniors section, Mercellino Kiyimba, Elvin Mukisa and Keith Morris Kugonza came 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Dasha Zalwango Kibuule, Kyla Ryann Nakijjoba and Reigner Namakula were the girls that took the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.
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