(Article courtesy of Uganda Chess Federation)
Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) has confirmed sending East Africa Chess (ladies) Champion, Goretti Angolikin as the second player to represent the country at the Zone 4.2 Africa Chess Championship to be held in Khartoum, Sudan from 19th May to 29th May 2011.
2011 East Africa (Ladies) Chess Champion, Goretti Angolikin (left) receives her trophy from Ugandan ladies chess veteran, Mrs. Verna Mwinganisa (right). Looking on is UCF President, Vianney Luggya.
Angolikin joins Elijah Emojong, who was the first player that the UCF entered in the men’s category. The two are set to depart for Khartoum on 18th May 2011 aboard Ethiopian Airlines.
Angolikin’s entry will go down in history as the first female Ugandan chess player to represent the country in such a high level individual chess competition. The other major event in which Ugandan female players have participated in the past was a team event, the 2010 world chess Olympiad held in Russia.
Participation in the Zone 4.2 Africa Chess Championship also puts Angolikin in line to become the first Ugandan female to attain a Masters title as the winners of this event in both the ladies and men’s categories are set to become International Masters (IMs) while the second and third in each category will become FIDE Masters.
Meanwhile, over 50 junior chess players have so far registered to participate in the Under 20 National Junior Chess Championship that is due to be held from Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th May 2011 at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
Defending champion Samuel Mayanja was among the first to register and is anxious to retain the title he last won in 2008 as the event was not held in 2009 and 2010. St. Mbuga Vocational Secondary School’s Benjamin Mukumbya whom a FIDE official once described as an International Master in the making is keen to challenge for the title as well.
19 year old Emojong is eligible to participate in the junior tourney but has opted not to participate and instead concentrate on preparing for the Zone 4.2 Africa Chess Championship. Emojong is certainly too strong for his agemates.
In the girls’ category, 15 year old Olympian, Phiona Mutesi is the favourite.