The games were played at Hotel Africana on Sunday. Before the games, Mulago Kings was leading the table standings by half a point.
On their part, Kings beat Mulago Pawns 4 – 1 and Mengo by the same margin. Third placed Mulago Knights beat Mulago Rooks 5 – 0 in the fifteenth round before falling at the hands of DMARK in the sixteenth round.
In the DMARK – Mulago Knights game, DMARK’s Arthur Ssegwanyi, Elijah Emojong, Solomon Lubega and Joy Kabengano beat Knights’ Simon Gonza, Mike Akabu, Mathias Ssonko and Barbra Akoli while DMARK’s Caxton Kalule drew with Knights David Mugisha.
In other games, fourth placed City Chess Club beat Makerere University 3.5 – 1.5 and Makerere University Business School 5 – 0. Fifth placed Aviation beat Lweza Kings 3 -2 and Kireka Chess Club 5 – 0.
Elsewhere, Uganda Chess Academy beat MUK 3.5 – 1.5 before losing to Makindye 2 – 3. Makindye also beat Mulago Queens 4 -1.
Bank of Uganda lost to Kireka 1.5 – 3.5 and beat UCU Knights 3.5 – 1.5, Entebbe Knightmare beat Cornerhouse 3 – 2 and also beat UCU Knights 3.5 – 1.5.
On other boards, Barclays Chess Club drew with Cornerhouse 2.5 – 2.5 and beat MUBS 4.5 – 0.5. Lweza Kings beat Mulago Rooks 3.5 – 1.5.
Among the national team players who are fresh from the World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, it’s only Bob Bibasa who had a rude welcome back home drawing with Aviation’s FIDE Master Andrew Naimanye in the fifteenth round before falling at the hands of Mulago Rooks’ David Muwanguzi in the sixteenth round. Bibasa features for Lweza Kings on board one. Other national team players including Patrick Kawuma, Arthur Ssegwanyi, Elijah Emojong and Harold Wanyama won all their games.
STANDINGS AFTER 16 ROUNDS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. DMARK Chess Club. 69
2. Mulago Kings 68
3. Mulago Knights. 64.5
4. City Chess Club. 55
5. Aviation Chess Club. 52.5
6. Uganda Chess Academy 51
7. Mulago Rooks. 46.5
8. Makindye Chess Club. 44.5
9. Lweza Kings 44.5
10. Mulago Queens. 39
11. Mengo Chess Club. 33
12. Barclays Bank. 32.5
13. Kireka Chess Club. 32.5
14. MUBS. 29.5
15. Makerere University. 28.5
16. Mulago Pawns. 28
17. Entebbe Knightmare. 26
18. Bank of Uganda. 20
19. Cornerhouse Club. 19
20. UCU Knights. 12.5
With three rounds to end the league, DMARK are now in a good position as title rivals Kings are yet to play third placed Knights. Although it looks like the title will ultimately be decided in the last round when Kings take on DMARK on October 21.