IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins Uganda Open
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi has clinched the 2020 Uganda Open Chess Tournament. He won the event with six points out of seven rounds which ran from 6th to 8th March 2020.
Fifty-eight players took part in the event which was the final Grand Prix event for the Olympiad selection. The other Grand Prix events included the Kantinti Memorial, Zabasajja Memorial, Kireka Open and the Rwabushenyi Memorial.
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi went home with UGX 500,000 (USD 150) and topped the Grand Prix standings with 75 points. Dut Ajier Agol, Walter Okas Rajab, Kamoga, and FM Patrick Kawuma were in joint second place with 5.5 points each.
Damalie Natembo won the Ladies section with 4.5 points.
A total of 58 players took part in the event.
It is interesting to note that this was IM Arthur Ssegwanyi’s fourth victory in 4 months! He won the Rwabushenyi Memorial in December 2019, the Kireka Open in January 2020 and the Rwanda Open in February 2020. IM Ssegwanyi’s rating is now 2399, and he is due to become the first player from East Africa to cross the 2400 mark.
The next phase is the Super 14 where the top twelve players from the Grand Prix will play a round-robin with the top junior and a wild card. The top 5 players from this event will make the Olympiad team.