National Junior Chess Champion, Haruna Nsubuga took the lead in the National Chess Championship after he settled for a hard fought draw with Rajab Kamoga in the fourth round played at Hotel Africana on Sunday 6th November 2011.
Nsubuga, Kamoga, Simon Gonza, Arthur Ssegwanyi and youngster Samuel Masagga are all unbeaten after four rounds and are the surprise joint leaders, each at 3.5
points out of a possible 4. Ssegwanyi propelled himself to the top after humbling defending champion Harold Wanyama in the fourth round. Wanyama has had a slow start as he had earlier on drawn with Gonza in the third round.
Gonza and Masagga beat Daniel Bagadde and former Olympian Isaac Munanira respectively to joing the leading pack. The event takes a break during the week but continues with the fifth round next weekend Saturday 12th. There will also be games on Sunday 13th and Sunday 20th November 2011. A total of 10 rounds are to be played, six more to go.
FM Elijah Emojong who missed the first two rounds is trying to play a catch up and is now on 2 points after beating Edwin Nuwamanya in the fourth round. Pre-tourney favourites Wanyama and Bob Bibasa are both on 2.5 points.
The winner of this event will be crowned 2011 National chess champion. He will also earn the right to automatically become part of the team to represent Uganda at the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Turkey. The top thirty in the event will also proceed to the next (second phase) of the Olympiad Qualifiers. The event is registered with FIDE for rating purposes.