Ssegwanyi and Nsubuga who have already drawn with each other are tied in joint first position at 7 points each, a full point ahead of the closest challengers with only two more rounds to go. Two games will be played on Sunday to complete the ten round event that started in earnest on 5th November 2011 and has so far been played over the last two consecutive weekends.
The winner of the event will other than being crowned National Chess Champion automatically qualify to be part of Uganda’s National Chess Team at the next Olympiad to be held in Turkey in August 2012.
In other key games to be played in the ninth round, Mathias Ssonko takes on Mike Akabu as Bob Bibasa plays Simon Gonza. FM Elijah Emojong who last week lost to Ssegwanyi plays Katula Frobisha as off the pace defending champion, Harold Wanyama plays Brian Mugabi. Wanyama is on 4 points, an incredible 3 points behind the leading pack of youngsters.
To get to the top, Ssegwanyi has so far beaten Ezekiel Kiggundu, James Nkemba, Harold Wanyama, Simon Gonza, Elijah Emojong, Farouk Fauza and drawn with Daniel Bagadde and Haruna Nsubuga. On his part, Nsubuga has beaten Atuhairwe Phillip, Michael Mawanda, Joseph Kaamu, Samuel Musagga, Emmanuel Mwaka, Fauza and drawn with Rajab Kamoga and Ssegwanyi.
In the ladies category, Grace Kigeni is leading with 8 points after 8 rounds played, followed by Ivy Amoko at 7 points and Phiona Mutesi at 6.5 points.
Kigeni has won all her 8 games played so far to put herself in the line for automatic qualification to the national ladies team as she seeks to become the ladies national champion for the first time in her history.