Olympian Harold Wanyama lived up to his billing by rallying from behind to get to the top of the standings by the end of the second phase of the Olympiad qualifiers that ended on Saturday at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel.
He finished with 5.5 points alongside fellow Olympian Shadrack Kantinti and early pace setter, Haruna Nsubuga but beat the later two with a better tie break.
The top 10 players in this event are all set to proceed to the last phase of the Olympiad qualifiers to be held in April. In the last phase, players will be battling for four slots to join already qualified national junior champion, Arthur Ssegwanyi on the national team to represent Uganda at the 40th World Chess Olympiad to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from August 27-September 10.
There were a series of draws in the eigth and final round. Kantinti drew with Rajab Kamoga, Wanyama drew with Daniel Baagadde as Nsubuga drew with Farouk Fauza. In other games, Vianney Luggya drew with Stephen Kisuze as Kenneth Kakooza beat Ssonko Mathias.
The top 10 in order of ranking after the final 8 rounds were as follows:
1. Harold Wanyama 5.5 points
2. Shadrack Kantinti 5.5 points
3. Haruna Nsubuga 5.5 points
4. Rajab Kamoga 5 points
5. Vianney Luggya 5 points
6. Daniel Baagadde 5 points
7. Stephen Kisuze 5 points
8. Farouk Fauza 5 points
9. Kenneth Kakooza 5 points
10. Micheal Mawanda 5 points