Pieces 14c (2)

Ssegwanyi turns on the style in Olympiad qualifiers
By Agatha Mutebi
10th February 2016

Ntende won the second phase with maximum points to book himself a slot in the final phase that started over the weekend

Olympiad qualifiers, final phase

Tables have over turned for the unranked player Edgar Ntende in the 11- round, round robin contest that started over the weekend at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel in Rubaga.

Ntende won the second phase with maximum points to book himself a slot in the final phase that started over the weekend.

But a draw with Richard Kato, Farouk Fauza ranked 2053 and Candidate Master (CM) Daniel Baagadde (2008) and a loss to Fide Master (FM) Patrick Kawuma pits below the cutoff mark.

Disgruntled Ntende in position six, gasps for breathe as he works around his pint-sized chances left, with 1.5 points as he waits to face International Master (IM) Arthur Ssegwanyi and Walter Okas (2258) in the next two rounds due February13 at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Segwanyi and Kawuma kicked off the round robin contest of the final phase of the qualifiers with ardent performances, winning all their weekend games.

Top of the table is Ssegwanyi having saved himself four points in four rounds after out smarting Okas, his tough opponent.

He has succeeded to pick himself up after some good lashes in the previous phase, but now stands focused to making it on the team to Baku this September one more time.

“I am always confident when I’m playing the white piece and it is doing magic for me. I just need to play a calm game and once I win my next four games, I will be sure of being on the team,” said Ssegwanyi

In the women’s category, unranked player Winnie Okoth is striving to make it to the top of the table in the qualifiers after securing herself 3 points in four rounds over the weekend at the same venue.

Okoth beat Elizabeth Kasujja, Vanessa Nakayima, and Shakira Ampaire to stay assured of making it on the team of five ladies ahead of the World Chess Olympiad scheduled for September in Baku.

“I’m happy with my steady progress so far and only looking towards being one of the five females who will represent Uganda in Baku.” said Okoth.

Others, Woman Fide Master (WFM) Grace Kigeni with 4 points is still the potential contender after thumping Okoth, Nakayima, Shakira Ampaire and Joan Nakimuli.

Kigeni ranked 1624 is scheduled to face lower ranked Joyce Kabengano (1518) in round 5 and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Phiona Mutesi (1611) in round 6 on Saturday.

Likewise, Okoth will be up against ranked players Nakimuli (1414) and Kabengano on the same day.

WFM Christine Namaganda continues to survive with 2.5 points in early sixth position on the table will carry on leaping her way to the top 5 this weekend.

Namaganda will be battling Elizabeth Kasujja before facing tougher opponent WFM Goretti Angolikin in the fifth and sixth rounds respectively.

Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug

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