National Junior Chess Champion, Haruna Nsubuga drew with Vianney Luggya and Stephen Kisuze respectively in the fifth and sixth rounds of the Olympiad Qualifiers (2nd Phase) played today Pope Paul Memorial Hotel in Rubaga.
The two hard fought draws pushed the unbeaten youngster, Nsubuga to 5 points out of a possible 6 points, maintaining a half point lead ahead of the closest challenger, Harold Wanyama who is on 4.5 points after beating fellow Olympian Shadrack Kantinti in the fifth round and drawing with Rajab Kamoga in the sixth round.
In other sixth round games, Farouk Fauza drew with Mathias Ssonko, Daniel Baagadde drew with Edwin Nuwamanya and Kenneth Kakooza drew with Joseph Kaamu.
Twenty two top players are slugging it out in an eight round Swiss tournament to determine the best eight that will join FM Elijah Emojong, FM Moses Kawuma, CM Bob Bibasa and CM Patrick Kawuma in the third and last phase of the qualifiers that will feature a round robin of 12 players to be played in April 2012. The best four players in the last phase will join National Junior Chess Champion, Arthur Ssegwanyi on Uganda’s team of 5 to represent the country at the 40th World Chess Olympiad to be held in Istambul, Turkey.
The top 8 after 6 rounds played are as follows:
Haruna Nsubuga 5 points
Harold Wanyama 4.5 points
Rajab Kamoga 4 points
Stephen Kisuze 4 points
Shadrack Kantinti 4 points
Vianney Luggya 3.5 points
Mathias Ssonko 3.5 points
Daniel Baagadde 3.5 points
Farouk Fauza 3.5 points
Edwin Nuwamanya 3.5 points
Two more rounds are to be played on March 10