(Article courtesy of Uganda Chess Federation)
Youngster Rajab Kamoga drew his sixth round game against Zabasajja Memorial champion Simon Gonza to get to 5 points out of 6 games in the East Africa Chess Championship thereby staying on course to win his first major tourney.
Kamoga’s fiercest rival for the top honours Elija Emojong was by the time of filing this report battling Olympian Harold Wanyama in a seemingly drawn ending in which Emojong had an edge with a pawn up with each side having a Rook on the board. A win for Emojong in this game would propel him to 5.5 points while a draw would leave him in a joint lead with Kamoga.
Also on 5 points is hard battling Olympian Shadrack Kantinti who had a low-key start with an earlier loss to Arthur Segwanyi.
Olympian Bob Bibasa lost a key game to fellow Olympian Patrick Kawuma, which pushed Kawuma to 4.5 points out of 6.
The fact that all the top players have dropped points at this stage of the competition is demonstration of the high level of competition being displayed.
Burundi’s strongest player in the event Dieudone Muheto also won his sixth round game against Samuel Edongot to get to 4 points.
Two more games are to be played on Easter Monday. The winner in the open category walks away with a trophy and Shs. 300,000/=.