The seventh edition of the Kireka Open Chess Championship attracted over 180 participants from six nations running from 28th to 31st December at the Nob View Hotel in Ntinda.
“We are delighted to have such an event which has attracted participants from over six nations with 120 participants in the open, 35 in the ladies and 35 in the juniors with two rounds each day from the 28th to 31st December.” said Christopher Turyabwe the International Abitter.
This is a FIDE rated event which ends the calendar year of the Uganda Chess Federation and part of the qualifying events to the 2024 Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary and the 2024 ALL Africa Games in Accra, Ghana.
The chief organiser of the Kireka open Musasizi Emmanuel hinted on some few challenges which have seen most of the Kenyan participants miss out.
“It has not been easy to pull up such numbers in this years championship as it has been affected by the Kenya Open which has seen most of the kenyans miss out but we remain hopefully that next year they will turn up.” said Musasizi Emmanuel.
The event will comprise of two sections namely the Open and Ladies section, but it also comes with the Junior section that will run for one day in a rapid format on Friday, 29th December.
The tournament is open to all players with a FIDE ID and will be run according to the Swiss
pairing system over a total of 8 rounds.
The Baku acceleration system shall be used for pairings of all rounds.
International Master Arthur Ssegwanyi is eager to clinch his third in a row after defeating Nafril Khalil to register his first win.
Penninah Nakabo who are one of the power couples in local chess are the defending champions in the Open and Ladies sections respectively.
