KAMPALA —Uganda Chess Federation has confirmed 28th November as the start date for the Rwabushenyi Memorial Open Chess Championship.
The Championship, organized in honor of the former UCF president, the late Cyril Rwabushenyi is an annual event, and over 200 players from over seven countries are expected to take part in this year’s edition.
Defending champion Fide Master Patrick Kawuma will lead a cast of Uganda’s top players hoping to become only the second player to win the event three times.
That won’t be an easy task though as International Master Arthur Ssegwanyi, IM Elijah Emojong and FM Harold Wanyama- the former winners will stake claim each hoping to regain the bragging rights.
Another player tipped to challenge is FM Haruna Nsubuga. The rated 2220 has never won the Open, but given his performance in the National Chess League where he ended the season as the second best player on board one, this may just be the year he adds Rwabushenyi to a collection of accolades to his name. Nsubuga also won the league with Kireka Panthers.
In the Ladies section, WFM Ivy Amoko, WFM Goretti Angolokin and WFM Penninah Nakabo are the favorites. Angolokin won the Championship in 2017 but was dethroned by youngster Janice Mubiru Namiiro last year.
Namiiro and the Kanyike siblings- Maria Nakanyike, Victor Kanyike and Vincent Buwule are the Juniors expected to have a say in this four day event that climaxes on 1st December at Xanada Collection Suites.
