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Ugandan Ssegwanyi qualifies for World Cup after winning Africa Zone Chess

Xinhua, April 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Uganda's Arthur Ssegwanyi rated 2,320 on Saturday night defied all odds to win the Africa Zone 4.2 Chess Championship with 7.5 points out of a possible nine, to secure a berth in the 2015 Chess World Cup.

The match was scheduled for nine games but Ssegwanyi proved dominant in the Open category with five wins, two draws and no defeats to claim the title.

In the earlier round, he defeated Ugandans Daniel Baagadde, Raphael Buti, Patrick Kawuma, Harold Wanyama and Egypt's International Master (IM) Hesham Abdelrahman.

Ssegwanyi also attained an International Master title and a prestigious trophy.

The 22 year-old pharmacist told Xinhua that his victory was as a result of proper psychological preparation and that he hopes to apply the same techniques in the World Cup matches.

Uganda Chess Federation President, Vianney Luggya said Ssegwanyi' s charisma and popularity around the region will be a good boost for chess in Uganda. He also said that the 2015 Zonal event was the biggest ever in the African Chess Zone 4.2 history having attracted a total of 38 players from seven countries.

Meanwhile, IM Abdelrahman finished in a joint second place with Kawuma at 6.5 points apiece. Kawuma also acquired a Fide Master (FM) title following his 66 percent score at the Zonal event.

Buti, who finished in third place at six points, also became an FM while GM Essam failed to turn up for the closing ceremony following his terrible blunders which forced him to settle fifth with 5.5 points.

In the women's category, Egyptian Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Ehab Tasneem rated 1,760 emerged victorious with eight points to book slot in the World Cup. Ehab also acquired a new title of a Woman International Master. She beat Ethiopian Ruth Leynuk, Estella Nduwayezu (Burundi), Uganda' s Christine Namaganda, Woman Fide Master (WFM) Ivy Amoko, WCM Elansary Eman (Egypt), WCM Phiona Mutesi, Daphine Mwikali (Kenya) and Uganda's Joan Nakimuli. However, she lost to Grace Kigeni who finished second with seven points.

The Chess World Cup 2015 will be hosted by Baku, Azerbaijan from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4 with 128 players competing in the single-elimination chess tournament. Endi