Fide Master Elijah Emojong is the 2013 National Chess Champion. He attained this feat after tying with fellow Olympian Patrick Kawuma at 9.5 points out of 11 but beating the later with a better Sonneborn-Berger tie break of 48.5 to 43.5 in games played at Pope Paul Memorial Hotel climaxing on Sunday 28 April 2013.
Emojong set an early pace in the event that started three weeks ago, going into the final three rounds with half a point ahead of Kawuma before the later assumed the lead with a win against Aaron Kanaabi in the tenth round as Emojong fell at the hands of unrated Rajab Kamoga in a very interesting duel that set up a titanic final in the 11th and last round. Kamoga shocked Emojong with a double Rook sacrifice that paid off after a series of tactical exchanges that culminated into a Knight and Bishop mate.
In the last round, Kawuma only needed a win to snatch the title but could only draw against fellow Olympian Harold Wanyama, a result that ultimately handed the title to Emojong who beat Grace Nsubuga to wrap up a splendid performance in the event in which he won nine games, drew one and lost one.
The Championship was held in a round robin format for the top 12 players in the country. To win the title, Emojong beat Patrick Kawuma, Haruna Nsubuga, Raphael Buti, Aaron Kanaabi, Shadrack Kantinti, Daniel Baagadde, Grace Nsubuga, Jordan Teeba and Fred Washaba. He drew with Wanyama and lost to Kamoga.
Kawuma, who put in an equally impressive performance with 9 wins, a draw and one loss was just unlucky to finish second. In third position was another very impressive and fast rising youngster in Haruna Nsubuga with 8.5 points.
Unrated Raphael Buti also surprised many with calm and collected performances that saw him take clear fourth position with 7.5 points, half a point ahead of fifth placed Olympian Harold Wanyama. There was a big gulf between the top 5 and the rest of the pack as three points separated the fifth from the sixth.
Top 5 performers
1 FM Emojong Elijah
2 CM Kawuma Patrick
3 Nsubuga Haruna
4 Buti Raphael
5 FM Wanyama Harold
