Mathew Mwase secured his first ever individual championship after going unbeaten at the National Junior Chess Championships that climaxed on Sunday at Nob View Hotel in Ntinda.
Due to the quality of his game, Mwase has been looked at as one of the up and coming stars in Ugandan chess, but he had previously not lived up to this tag.
Before Sunday, the only time the 17-year-old had been on a winning side was when he won a team gold during the Zonals in Nairobi two years ago.
That is now a thing of the past. Not only did he lift the trophy, he did it in style. He beat everyone on his way to a 8/8 triumph.
Mwase started off the competition as expected, easily beating those viewed as ‘weaker’ than him.
His first test arrived in the fifth round when he met Ethan Kigundu. Both players had been on a roll, but Mwase ended Kigundu’s run.
He went ahead and beat Shafik Muhebwa in the next round which meant he faced Edwin Pido, one of the pre-tournament favourites, in the penultimate round.
Pido is relatively more experienced having represented Uganda in numerous continental events. He has an Africa Schools Individual Chess Championships gold medal to his name.
He was a pre-tournament favourite but Mwase said not today. He outwitted Pido which in turn meant he had to face defending champion Benjamin Netanyahu Ajiri in the final round.
Ajiri who had lost to Arthur Mwase, the younger sibling of the Mwases in the fifth round, was not only the defending champion but was also ranked No.1 at this tournament, therefore outright favourite.
If Mwase wanted glory, he had to overcome the very best. He did exactly that; downing Ajiri as he won the championship with a perfect 8/8.
Ajiri ended up finishing 9th. Mwase’s young brother came second while Pido completed the top three.
Patricia Kawuma gets her revenge
Sana Omprakash Kayyar against Patricia Kawuma in the girls section provided another thrilling encounter in the final round.
Omprakash entered the competition as the defending champion and the fact that she had beaten Kawuma on her way to winning the Kireka Open just a week ago, she was favourite to edge the tie, but it wasn’t to be.
Kawuma who lost the fifth round to Kevin Mary Ndagire took the day.
The Olympian won the trophy with 7 points. Omprakash ended up finishing third as Ndagire came second.
Courtesy Photos
