World Cup bound FM Haruna Nsubuga took the bragging rights at the Inaugural Isiiko Mohammed Memorial Rapid Chess tournament that was held at the Glorious Gardens in Namugongo after emerging as the winner of the competition.
Nsubuga who is set to become only the second Ugandan player to play at a Chess World Cup posted seven points in an eight-round tourney. The rated 2129 beat the field of the country’s best including IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, FM Harold Wanyama, FM Patrick Kawuma, FM Walter Okas among others to the gong.
To emerge victorious, Nsubuga went undefeated, winning six and drawing just two games. The two draws came against Okas and veteran chess player FM Bob Bibasa. Bibasa with 6.5 points came second.
Wanyama, Kawuma, Abdul Shakuru Wagodo, David Mugisha, Ivan Kaddu, Allan Benjamin Mande, Kennedy Namwanza and Innocent Tamale completed the top ten all with six points.
Ssegwanyi who forfeited the opening round finished 11th with 5.5 points. he lost his sixth round game to fellow Olympian CM Emmanuel Egesa. Egesa with 5 points came 14th while Okas finished 26th with 4.5 points.
The tournament that had over 100 players participate was a tribute to the late Mohammed Isiiko, a former Gambit Chess Club player who passed away in April last year in a tragic accident.
