(Press release courtesy of Uganda Chess Federation)
National Schools Chess Championship defending champions St. Mbuga Vocational have won the 2012 Open section with 49 points, 6 points ahead of closest challengers SOM Academy at Hope High School (Watoto) in Mpigi District. The five day event ended yesterday morning (25 April 2012) with a glamorous prize giving ceremony.
The girls category was won by SOM Academy with 34 points followed by St. Mbuga with 32.5 points and hosts Hope High (Watoto) came third at 23 points.
The highlight of the event was National Ladies team player, Phiona Mutesi of St. Mbuga who opted to play in the boys category (prompting to rename it Open Category) and emerged best player on Board One winning Gold with 12 points out of 13 points. She won 12 games and only lost one to SOM Academy’s Wilson Mugwanya.
Final Standings (Open Category)
- St. Mbuga Vocational Academy – 49 points
- SOM Academy – 43 points
- Jinja College – 35.5 points
- Busoga College Mwiri – 33.5 points
- Hope High (Watoto) – 33 points
- Kiira College Butiki – 29 points
- Namilyango College – 26.5 points
- Kyambogo College – 14. 5 points
- Koro (Gulu) – 10 points
In the Open category, the board winners were as follows:
Board One
Gold – Phiona Mutesi (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 12 points (out of 13)
Silver – Richard Tugume (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 12 points
Bronze – Wilson Mugwanya (SOM Academy)
Board Two
Gold – Brian Mugabi (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 12 points
Silver – Richard Kato (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 11 points
Bronze – Dan Machete (Kiira College Butiki) – 10 points
Board Three
Gold – Benjamin Mukumbya (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 13
Silver – Nelson Matovu (Hope High – Watoto) – 12 points
Bronze – Richard Buyinza (SOM Academy) – 10.5 points
Board Four
Gold – Martin Musiime (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 12 points
SIlver – Moses Wakkiko (Hope High) – 11 points
Bronze – Abdu Wagodo (Jinja College) – 8 points
Final Standings (Girls category)
- SOM Academy – 34 points
- St. Mbuga – 32.5 points
- Hope High – 23 points
- Trinity College Nabbingo – 17 points
In the Girls’ category, the board winners were as follows:
Board One
Gold – Gloria Nansubuga (SOM Academy) – 10 points (out of 10)
SIlver – Nakayima Vanessa (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 6 points
Bronze – Mwesigwa T. (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 5 points
Board Two
Gold – Joan Nakimuli (SOM Academy) – 10 points
Silver – Peace Dorcas (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 8 points
Bronze – Sophia Naggayi (Hope High) – 5 points
Board Three
Gold – Gloria Nansubuga (SOM Academy) – 10 points
Silver – Esther Tushemerirwe (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 7 points
Bronze – Sarah Nabakooza (Hope High) – 6 points
Board Four
Gold – Patience Nayebare (St. Mbuga Vocational) – 9.5 points
Silver – Mariam Nankanda (Hope High) – 8 points
Bronze – Kihembo Hezlee (Trinity College Nabbingo) – 6.5 points