National Chess League debutantes DMARK Chess Club beat defending champions, Mulago Kings 3-2 in the final round played on Sunday 21 October 2012 at Hotel Africana to snatch the much coveted trophy at their first time of asking.
DMARK has had a splendid season led by their female player Joy Kabengano and Olympian Arthur Ssegwanyi who each notched the biggest number of points for their team, with Kabengano picking up 14 points on Board 5 while Ssegwanyi garnered 13.5 points on Board 1.
In the final game, DMARK’s Kabengano and Solomon Lubega beat Mulago Kings’ Deborah Wanja and Kenneth Kakooza as DMARK’s Elijah Emojong and Caxton Kalule drew with Kings’ Grace Nsubuga and Farouk Fauza. Kings pulled one back through Harold Wanyama who beat fellow Olympian Ssegwanyi on board one. DMARK’s historic victory signifies an increase in competition in the league and a potential shift in dominance. Kings have previously won the league three times. In other games played on Sunday, third placed Mulago Knights beat Uganda Chess Academy 5-0, Aviation Chess Club beat Makerere University Business School 4.5-0.5 as City Chess Club beat Mulago Pawns by teh same margin. A much revived Cornerhouse Chess Club beat Kireka 3.5 – 1.5, Lweza Kings beat UCU 4-1, MUK beat Bank of Uganda 1,5-0.5, Makindye beat Entebbe Knightmare 4.5-0.5, Mengo beat Barclays Bank 3-2 and Mulago Queens drew with Mulago Rooks 2.5-2.5. The best players on each of the five respective boards were as follows based on a minimum of 60 percent games played:
Board 1 Simon Gonza of Mulago Knights with 14 points out of 18 games played.
Board 2 Patrick Kawuma of Mulago Kings with 16 points out of 17 games played.
Board 3 Ssonko Mathias Allan of Mulago Knights with 16 points out of 18 games played.
Board 4 David Mugisha of Mulago Knights with 14 points out of 18 games played.
Board 5 Joy Kabengano of DMARK Chess Club with 14 points out of 15 games played.