Uganda hosts Zabasajja Memorial

Uganda Uganda Uganda

OVER 50 SIGNED UP FOR ZABASAJJA MEMORIAL RAPID

Willy Zabasajja
Photo courtesy of Cathy Rogers.

Over fifty (50) Chess players including four (4) from Southern Sudan have so far expressed interest to participate in the 3rd Edition of the Zabasajja Memorial Rapid Chess Championship set for Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March 2011 at Hotel Africana.

About 100 chess players are expected to take part in the event sponsored by Eng. Andrew Naimanye to the tune of shillings one million three hundred seventy five thousand (1,375,000/=) for the third time in a row.
The event’s defending champion Bob Bibasa will be up for an uphill task against the likes of Harold Wanyama, Shadrack Kantinti, Elija Emojong, Arthur Ssegwanyi, Grace Nsubuga, Patrick Kawuma and Walter Okas among others.

This will be the first major UCF organised event on a busy calendar for the year. In the Rapid event, each player will be allocated 50 minutes to complete their game. 4 rounds will be played every day. Rapid Chess slightly differs from conventional chess in that with Rapid tournaments each player is allocated fewer minutes as opposed to the conventional long chess game that can go on for between 4 to 6 hours. In the Zabasajja Memorial Rapid, the maximum time a single game will last will be 1 hour and 40 minutes.

A former Uganda National chess champion Eng. Naimanye (the event sponsor) although now a British Citizen and retired from competitive chess; still holds the record for the highest chess rating in East and Central Africa. Eng. Naimanye’s chess record rating of 2360 has never been surpassed in over twenty years.

The historic event being held in memory of legendary Willy Zabasajja is the first tournament on the Uganda Chess Federation events Calendar for 2011. Zabasajja was one of the strongest chess players Uganda has ever produced having won nine national chess championship titles during his time. He was also the first Ugandan to attain the FIDE Master title after stunning displays at the World Chess Olympiad at which he gallantly represented Uganda countless times.


Vianney Luggya

Uganda Chess Federation
P.O. Box 2355, Kampala – Uganda.
National Council of Sports Headquarters, Lugogo
Tel: +256-752-426559, 701-526559
Email: ugandachess@yahoo.com
Website: https://uganda.fide.com

3 Comments

  1. RAPID GAMES MASTER KANDUHO JOINS THE FRAY

    Veteran Geoffrey Kanduho, a former Olympian who has been off the Chess scene for some time but is reputed to have mastered the art of playing quick chess games is the latest surprise entrant in the Zabasajja Memorial Rapid tournament scheduled for Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March 2011 at Hotel Africana.

    Kanduho, despite being out of competitive action for some time is expected to put up a spirited challenge and give perennial contenders like Bob Bibasa, Hrold Wanyama, Shadrack Kantinti and Elija Emojong a run for their money based on his background experience and strength in Rapid games.

    Rapid Chess slightly differs from conventional chess in that with Rapid tournaments each player is allocated fewer minutes as opposed to the conventional long chess game that can go on for between 4 to 6 hours. In the Zabasajja Memorial Rapid, the maximum time a single game will last will be 1 hour and 40 minutes.

    Some chess players are naturally gifted to think fast and therefore perfom better in faster games as opposed to the conventional long games, which require a lot of concentration and composure. Kanduho who represented Uganda at the 2004 Olympiad in Calvia, Spain is one such player.

    The number of interested participants had by last evening shot to over 60 but actual participation is estimated at about 100 players as registration for participation in the event closes at 8:30 am at the event venue (Hotel Africana) shortly before commencement of the games at 9:00 am.

    The event is sponsored by Eng. Andrew Naimanye to the tune of shillings one million three hundred seventy five thousand (1,375,000/=) for the third tim in a row. Hotel Africana, the event hosts also provided partial sponsorship.

    The Men’s winner will bag Shs. 250,000 and a trophy, second shs. 150,000 and third shs. 80,000. The Ladies winner will get Shs. 150,000, second shs. 80,000 and third shs. 50,000.

    The historic event being held in memory of legendary Zabasajja is the first tournament on the Uganda Chess Federation events Calendar for 2011. Zabasajja was one of the strongest chess players Uganda has ever produced having won nine national chess championship titles during his time. He was also the first Ugandan to attain the FIDE Master title after stunning displays at the World Chess Olympiad at which he gallantly represented Uganda countless times.

    Registration for participation in the event (at Shs. 5,000 per local player) is ongoing with the UCF Treasurer, Andrew Bakiza every evening at Lugogo Tennis Club and will end at 8.30 am on Saturday moning (26th March 2011) so that games commence at exactly 9:00 am in Hotel Africana’s Kagera Hall.

    Vianney Luggya
    President
    Uganda Chess Federation
    P.O. Box 2355, Kampala – Uganda.
    National Council of Sports Headquarters, Lugogo
    Tel: +256-752-426559, 701-526559
    Email: ugandachess@yahoo.com
    Website: https://uganda.fide.com

  2. KANTINTI IN EARLY LEAD

    Olympians Shadrack Kantinti and Harold Wanyama are joined by Simon Gonza in an early lead in the Zabasajja Memorial Rapid Chess Championship after notching 3 points out of the first three games.

    Kantinti squeezed Rajab Kamoga in a tricky ending in which Kantinti had an advanced King in enemy territory that later made the difference. Wanyama edged veteran Geofrey Kanduho in the third round. The other leading contenders Olympian Patrick Kawuma and Walter Okas were still embroiled in a seemingly drawn ending.

    Defending champion Bob Bibasa was pegged back in a second round upset after drawing with little known Leonard Chabo.

    The event drew 54 participants at Hotel African. The ladies are slugging it out in a round robin with Olympian Ivy Amoko leading with 2 points out of 2 as is Nsubuga Rita Nansove.

    Five more rounds are to be played in the Men’s category, one more game today and four tomorrow before the closing ceremony scheduled for 5 pm.

    Vianney Luggya

    Uganda Chess Federation
    P.O. Box 2355, Kampala – Uganda.
    National Council of Sports Headquarters, Lugogo
    Tel: +256-772-426559
    Email: ugandachess@yahoo.com
    Website: https://uganda.fide.com

  3. SIMON GONZA IS THE ZABASAJJA MEMORIAL SURPRISE WINNER

    Simon Gonza who has been playing competitive Chess for close to ten years without winning any tournment beat the odds to win the 2011 Zabasajja Memorial Rapid Chess Championship unbeaten with 7.5 points out of 8.

    To emerge victorious in the event held at Hotel Africana from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th March2011, Gonza beat Nelson Mubiru, David Muwanguzi, Peter Maguzi, Olympian Shadrack Kantinti, Walter Okas, Olympian Harold Wanyama and Rwabushenyi Memorial Winner Elija Emojong. He had earlier on drawn with Olympian Patrick Kawuma in the fifth round.

    It was a much deserved win considering that he outwitted most of the top players. Against Kantinti, Gonza was White and attacked with the Sicillian Grand Prix, and agaisnt Wanyama he had the Black pieces and ripped apart the Olympian’s Pirk.

    Gonza scooped a trophy and Shs. 250,000/-. The second got 150,000/= and third 75,000/=.

    Finishing in second position was hard fighting Olympian Shadrack Kantinti with 7 points while Patrick Kawuma shared third position with Wanyama. Defending chmpion Bob Bibasa was relegated to fifth position after finishing with 5.5 points.

    The Ladies event was won by Olympian Grace Kigenti with 7 points followed by Goretti Angolikin and Ivy Amoko at 5 points each. Kigeni won all her games. For her efforts, Kigeni walked off with Shs. 150,000/=, second in the Ladies 80,000/= and third 50,000/=.

    The event drew 54 participants including a South African Herman Naude who finished in 36th position.

    It had been sponsored by Eng. Andrew Naimanye, retired Chess player who still holds the highest rating of 2360 in East Africa.

    Eng. Naimanye put in 1,375,000/=. Hotel Africana co-sponsored the event by providing a conducive air conditioned environment at highly subsidised rates.

    The top ten in the Men’s event were as follows:

    1. Simon Gonza 7.5 points
    2. Shadrack Kantinti 7 points
    3. Patrick Kawuma 6 points
    4. Harold Wanyama 6 points
    5. Bibasa Bob 5.5 points
    6. Muwanguzi David 5 points
    7. Kanduho Geoffrey 5 points
    8. Emojong Elija 5 points
    9. Okas Walter 5 POINTS
    10. Sangalo Morris 5 points

    The UCF is glad that new winners are emerging in almost every tournament, which is a sign of increased competition. Several upcoming youngsters are finding their way in the top ten in the likes of Sangalo, Muwanguzi and Gonza.

    Veteran Kanduho who made a surprise entry in the event after a five year lull lived up to his billing by finishing 7th after some splendid displays.

    Vianney Luggya

    Uganda Chess Federation
    P.O. Box 2355, Kampala – Uganda.
    National Council of Sports Headquarters, Lugogo
    Tel: +256-772-426559
    Email: ugandachess@yahoo.com
    Website: https://uganda.fide.com

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