Uganda’s ladies National Chess Team put in a heroic display to beat Netherlands Antilles 2.5 – 1.5 as the men succumbed to Grandmaster opposition in a 0.5 – 3.5 loss.
In the ladies game, Ivy Amoko and Goretti Angolikin inspired the team to victory with crucial wins against Netherlands Antilles’ Salim Moussa Arzy and Bryan Reudi respectively as Phiona Mutesi sealed the win with a hard fought draw against a higher rated opponent in Salim Moussa Seydi (rated 1806).
In the men’s category, Patrick Kawuma made history by joining the list of the very few Ugandan players who have managed to draw against Grandmasters at the World Chess Olympiad as he forced a draw against Mexico’s Grandmaster Gonzalez Zamora Juan Carlos in a game that he could have won had it not been for the GM’s experience.
Early in the game, the Grandmaster sacrificed a piece in a theoretical Gambit which Kawuma gladly accepted and managed to hang on to. In the endgame, Kawuma had a Bishop and Pawns while the GM had only Pawns that could not Queen due to the well placed Bishop.
Arthur Ssegwanyi lost to GM Leon Hoyos Manuel after taking him on all the way in a balanced game that portrayed several flashes of brilliance. The Ugandan however blundered in time trouble. Earlier Bob Bibasa and Elijah Emojong had fallen at the hands of IM Barra Chami Luis Fernando and GM Gonzales Garcia Jose respectively.
Sunday 2 September 2012 will be rest day. The games resume with round 6 matches on Monday 3 September 2012 as the Ugandan men take on Mauritius while the ladies will be up against Bangladesh.