The Blitz play off followed a tie between the three players at 7.5 points.
Bibasa finished in second position and National Chess Champion, Ssegwanyi in third. The three players scooped cash prizes and trophies courtesy of sponsors, Civil Aviation Authority. “It is great to win this tournament for a second time and I believe I am back with this win,” Wanyama said after the win. “Last year I had a terrible season, but am glad to be back this way.”
For their efforts, Wanyama walked off with 700,000/=, Bibasa 300,000/= and Ssegwanyi 150,000/=.
In fourth position was ex Olympian Kenneth Kakooza with 7 points and he got 50,000/=. Kakooza tied with Kenya’s Githinji Hinga but edged the Kenyan with a better tie break.
In the tournament, Wanyama beat Grace Nsubuga, Kenneth Kakooza, Daniel Baagadde, Kenya’s Githinji Hinga, Walter Okas and Albert Otete among others. He lost to Ssegwanyi and drew with Bob Bibasa.
CAA injected 8,500,000/= in the event for the third year running. The event is held in memory of the late Cyril Rwabushenyi, a former Uganda Chess Federation Chairman and also formerly a Director with CAA.
Olympian Bob Bibasa drew with National Chess Champion, Arthur Ssegwanyi as Harold Wanyama beat Grace Nsubuga in the final round of the Rwabushenyi Memorial Chess Championship at Hotel Africana. The results mean that all three players finish with 7.5 points each out of 9.
Kenya’s Matthew Kanegeni lost to Kenneth Kakooza in the final round to finish with 6 points.
The ladies championship was won by defending champion, Phiona Mutesi who beat Stella Babirye in the final round played this morning to finish with 8 points.
In second position was Olympian Ivy Amoko with 7.5 points after she got a point against Goretti Angolikin. National Ladies Champion, Grace Kigeni finished in joint third position with Christine Namaganda at 6.5 points but Namaganda edged it with a better tie break.
A record total of 109 participants from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda participated in the event. Tanzania had three representatives including Nurdin Hassuj who finished with 4.5 points out of 9 and ended the event on a high after beating Barclays Chess Club’s Captain Norman Muwanguzi and Ebrahim Mustafa who finished with 5 points after beating Henry Kimbowa in the final round.