Team Uganda set for 2022 Chennai Olympiad
Team Uganda for the 2022 Chennai Olympiad has been selected after a gruelling round-robin event involving 14 players.
The Open Section
FM Patrick Kawuma emerged the winner with 10 points out of 13 rounds. Harold Wanyama, who doubles up as the coach, was second with 9.5 points.
FM Haruna Nsubuga was third, Walter Okas was fourth, and Emmanuel Egesa took up the final slot.
FM Patrick Kawuma v FM Harold Wanyama
Rajab Kamoga, the winner of the 2022 Uganda Open, missed an Olympiad slot when he finished in 8th position with 7.5 points.
IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, East Africa’s top-rated player at 2412, did not participate and hence missed an Olympiad slot. He has represented Uganda at four Olympiads (2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018).
Walter Okas v FM Patrick Kawuma
Emmanuel Egesa, on the other hand, will be making his maiden Olympiad appearance. For Walter Okas, it will be his second appearance at the Olympiad after the 2018 Batumi Olympiad.
Benjamin Ajiri Netanyahu who shares a name with former Israeli Prime Minister was the top junior player taking part in the event.
FM Patrick Kawuma v Benjamin Ajiri Netanyahu
Ladies Section
The Ladies’ Section was equally competitive.
Peninah Nakabo was the winner with 11.5 points out of 13 rounds.
WCM Shakira Ampaire was second with 10 points, while WFM Gloria Nansubuga was third with 9 points. Milly Takali and Patricia Kawuma grabbed the 4th and 5th slots with 7.5 points each.
Christine Namaganda v Peninah Nakabo
Peninah Nakabo v Goretti Angolikin
Olympiad selection process
The Ugandan Olympiad selection process has two stages. Twelve top players are selected from four Grand Prix events. In addition, the top junior player and a wild-card fill in the other two slots.
The Grand Prix events included the 2021 Rwabushenyi Memorial, 2022 Zabassajja/Kantinti Memorial, 2022 Kireka Open and the 2022 Uganda Open.
The final phase was a gruelling 13 round-robin event that spanned four weekends! The dates for the event were the 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th and 26th March 2022.
Fairway Hotel & Spa was the venue for the final phase in Kampala.
Team Uganda ended in the 104th position out of 184 countries in the 2018 Batumi Olympiad. Kenya, by comparison, ended up in the 143rd position.
The Ladies’ team ended in the 96th out of 150 countries in the 2018 Batumi Olympiad. The Kenyan ladies, by comparison, were 115th in the final ranking.
Links
2022 Uganda Olympiad Selection Tournament on chess-results.com.
