Home Chess News IM Ssegwanyi wins 5th Kireka Open Chess Championship

IM Ssegwanyi wins 5th Kireka Open Chess Championship

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IM Ssegwanyi wins 5th Kireka Open Chess Championship

IM Ssegwanyi cruised to a comfortable win at the 2021 Kireka Open with 7.5 points out of 8 rounds. He was undefeated and drew only one game against Emmanuel Musasizi. IM Arthur Ssegwany has won this event three times (2016, 2019 and 2021) out of the five editions with this victory.  He went home with UGX 1,000,000 (approximately USD 300) out of a total cash prize of UGX 4,050,000 (USD 1,200).

 

IM Ssegwanyi seen here in action during the 2017 Kenya National Chess League in Nairobi. Photo credit Kim Bhari.
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi seen here in action during the 2017 Kenya National Chess League in Nairobi. Photo credit Kim Bhari.

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi is Uganda’s top-ranked player at 2409.  He has also participated in two editions of the FIDE World Cup.

Gong Thon Gong of South Sudan, Julius Ssali and Emmanuel Egesa were joint runners-up with 6.5 points each. However, Gong Thon Gong had a better tie-break to grab the second slot.

IM Elijah Emojong (left) takes on Gong Thon Gong of South Sudan.
IM Elijah Emojong (left) takes on Gong Thon Gong of South Sudan.

The eight-round tournament ran from 28th to 31st December 2021. The tournament was the second Grand Prix event to select the team for the 2022 Moscow Olympiad.

Emmanuel Egesa (left) takes on Anyuat Mabior of South Sudan.
Emmanuel Egesa (left) takes on Anyuat Mabior of South Sudan.

The other Grand Prix events include the Kantinti Memorial (Feb 2022), Zabassajja Memorial (Mar 2022) and the Uganda Open (Apr 2022). The first Grand Prix event was the 2021 Rwabushneyi Memorial won by FM Haruna Nsubuga and held in early December 2021.

Philip Chol of South Sudan takes on FM Haruna Nsubuga of Uganda. IM Ssegwanyi
Philip Chol of South Sudan takes on FM Haruna Nsubuga of Uganda.

South Sudan & Somalia

Nine players from South Sudan and one player from Somalia took part in the event to add an international dimension. No Kenyan player took part in this year’s edition.

The playing venue.
The playing venue.

A total of just over 100 players took part in the Open section and another 40 in the Junior section.

Sharif Wasswa Maziira

An interesting participant was Sharif Wasswa Maziira, who obtained 3.5 points. He won a silver medal at the 3rd edition of the FIDE World Junior Chess Championship for the Disabled held in July 2019.

Sharif Wasswa Maziira (right) who ended with 3.5 points. Photo credit Robert Katende.
Sharif Wasswa Maziira (right) who ended with 3.5 points. Photo credit Robert Katende.

The event is organised by Kireka Chess Club under the auspices of the Uganda Chess Federation.

Poster of the event.
Poster of the event.
The playing venue.
The playing venue.

Past winners

2018 – 3rd edition – Solomon Lubega
2017 – 2nd edition – FM Harold Wanyama
2016 – 1st edition – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi

Links

5th Kireka Open Chess Championship on chess-results.com.

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins 4th Kireka Open.

Solomon Lubega wins 3rd Kireka Open.

FM Harold Wanyama wins 2nd Kireka Open.

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi wins 1st Kireka Open.