Home Chess News Ugandans dominate 2017 Genocide Memorial Chess Tournament

Ugandans dominate 2017 Genocide Memorial Chess Tournament

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Ugandans dominate 2017 Genocide Memorial Chess Tournament

The 2017 Genocide Memorial Chess tournament held in Kigali, Rwanda  from 9th to 11th June 2017 ended  with the Ugandan quartet of FM Haruna Nsubuga, Mathias Ssonko, FM Harold Wanyama and Simon Gonza tying for first place after all 4 players ended on 5/6.

Poster for the event.

The final round saw Mathias Ssonko hold highly fancied FM Haruna Nsubuga to a tough draw on board 1 which allowed FM Harold Wanyama and Simon Gonza to tie with 5 points after their last round wins.

FM Haruna Nsubuga. Photo credits Fernand Mugisha.

Ugandans occupied the top 9 spots to stamp their dominance in the International Section that attracted a total of 36 players from 5 federations including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Congo.

The Open Section had 30 players from six federations including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, England and the USA.

The playing hall. Photo credit Duke Micheka.

Uganda’s Ivy Kayesu dominated the Ladies Section with a score of 3/6.

A section of players. Photo credit Duke Micheka.

In the Open Section, the Ugandan’s were again dominant with Samuel Were and Ugandan Chess Federation President, Emmanuel Mwaka tying for first place with 5.5/6 each.

CM Maxence Murara. Photo credit Fernand Mugisha
View of the playing hall. Photo credit Duke Micheka.

Joselyne Uwase from Rwanda scored 4/6 in this section to end as the highest placed female in the section.

Ricky Sang was the only participant from Kenya in the International Section and he ended up with a respectable 3.5/6 to end up in 14th position.

Ricky Sang from Kenya. Photo credit Fernand Mugisha

Naftaly Wachira Mwangi was the only Kenyan in the Open Section and who obtained an impressive 5 points to end up in joint 2nd place with Rongin Munyurangabo of Rwanda.

2017 Genocide Memorial Chess
The charming Nathalie Nahimana from Burundi. Photo credit Fernand Mugisha

The event was boosted by the presence of GM Maurice Ashley who was in the country for the Chess Master’s Africa Tour.

Paul Kafuko v Simon Gonza

GM Maurice Ashly in action. Photo credit unknown.
GM Maurice Ashley teaches a class of attentive kids in a Kigali school. Photo credit Maurice Ashley.

This event is held as a poignant reminder to the dark days of the 1994 Genocide when thousands were brutally killed while the whole of Africa and the world turned a blind eye.

2017 Genocide Memorial Chess
Ivan Mugisha from Uganda. Photo credit Fernand Mugisha

The arbiter of this event was Duke Michieka from Kenya and the event was partially sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa.

2017 Genocide Memorial Chess
Rukimbira Valentin of Rwanda. Photo credit Fernand Mugisha.
2017 Genocide Memorial Chess
Extract of the final standings for the International section.
2017 Genocide Memorial Chess
Extract of the final standings Open section.

Links

2017 Genocide Memorial Chess Tournament on chess-results.com.

Rwanda Olympiad Qualifiers Final Phase Individual Round Robin 2022 on chess-results.com.

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins 2020 Rwanda Open.

Rwanda Olympiad Team set for Chennai Olympiad.

Rwanda Olympiad Qualifiers 2022 Phase One on chess-results.com.

FM Haruna Nsubuga wins 2019 Rwanda Open.

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Think Like a Super-GM Article by Kenya Chess Masala.