Gong Thon Gong wins 2023 Kantinti Memorial
Gong Thon Gong of South Sudan won the 2023 Kantinti Memorial Open Chess Championship that ended last weekend at the Nob-View Hotel in downtown Kampala.
He amassed 7.5 points out of 8 rounds to go home with UGX 1.5 million (USD 400).
Despite being in great pain due to kidney cancer, veteran FM Bob Bibasa bravely fought to end up in second place with seven points. Joining him in second place was talented Kenyan youngster Rober Mcligeyo, who had a lower tie-break to take the bronze medal.
Readers of this website will remember the name Gong Thon Gong as he was the one who won all three phases of the gruelling 2022 South Sudan Olympiad Qualifiers!
Other Kenyans who took part included CM Ben Magana and Hugh Misiko, who scored 5.5. Rishit Raval was the fourth Kenyan with a respectable 5 points.
The event saw over 150 participants from four African federations, including South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda.
Other event details
The total cash prize fund was UGX 6.5 million, translating to a modest USD 600.
Patricia Kawuma scored 5.5 points to win the Ladies’ prizes.
Elijah Muhumuza, on the other hand, emerged victorious with six points out of six rounds in the Junior Section, which had just over 80 participants.
The event saw tremendous interest as it doubles up as a Grand Prix Circuit for the 2024 Olympiad Qualifiers and is a qualifier for the 2024 African Games.
Game corner
Gong Thon Gong v CM Ben Magana
Samuel Were v CM Ben Magana
Robert Mcligeyo v Majok Bior Deng
Benjamin Chau Awar v Robert Mcligeyo
Past winners
2023 – Gong Thon Gong
2022 – Rajab Kamoga
2020 – FM Patrick Kawuma
Shadrack Kantinti
Shadrack Kantinti was an 8-time record Olympian for Uganda who passed who passed away in June 2019. He played in 1996, 2000 to 2010 and 2018 editions of the Olympiad. In the 2006 edition, he scored an impressive seven victories out of 13 games.
Bob Bibasa, a close friend, had to say.
‘Kantinti was a very humble guy in real life but a monster on the chessboard. You could not tell when and how he is going to sacrifice because a number of his games culminated with a sacrifice!’
Links
2023 Kantinti Memorial Open Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
FM Patrick Kawuma wins 2020 Kantinti Memorial.
Chess Shop
Article by Kenya Chess Masala.
