Boxing Day Round 9:
Benjamin Mukumbya (Uganda) 0.5 – 0.5 Jacobsen Beer (Norway)
Uganda’s 17 year old representative in the ongoing World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Benjamin Mukumbya has so far put up a gallant fight that has so far seen him trounce two rated opponents and holdin three others including a boxing day draw.
Despite being unrated, Mukumbya has so far managed to beat Belgium’s Harutyunyan Axel (rated 1811), UAE’s Al Zarooni Ahmed (rated 1723) and drawn with Bolivia’s Candidate Master Arias Pablo (rated 2084), Chinese Taipe’s Rey Huting (rated 1562) and lately Norway’s Jacobsen Beer (1966).
He has however lost to much more fancied opposition in IM Martinez Romero Martin of Colombia (2381), Atanasov Anatoli of Bulgaria (2041), Gstach Jakob of Australia (2227) and FM El Jawich Amro of Lebanon (2156). That puts the Ugandan on 3 points out of a possible 8.
The performance so far puts Mukumbya well on course to attain his first international rating as he is almost close to raising the required number of rated games and results to enable him attain one.
A total of 11 rounds are to be played in the event that started on 18 December and ends on 29 December 2013.
Mukumbya is playing in the Open Under 18 age category which is the toughest category at the event featuring a host of young and lethal Grandmasters, International Masters and FIDE Masters. There is also competition in the Under 16, Under 14, Under 12, Under 10 and Under 8 age categories for boys and girls.
The boy’s results so far are quite commendable considering that this is his first major international tournament and he is up against more experienced and talented youngsters. The exposure and experience he is gaining from participating in such a high profile event is invaluable for his future progress in Chess.
The event features more than 1800 players from 120 countries. Mukumbya is now ranked 101st (with 3.5 points) after 9 rounds with 2 more rounds to play out of the 123 players in his Under 18 catergory.
International master, Idani Pouya of India leads with 7.5 points after 9 rounds.
Mukumbya’s Performances So far:
| 31 | IM | Martinez Romero Martin | 2381 | COL | 6.0 | w 0 | |
| 2 | 87 | Atanasov Anatoli | 2041 | BUL | 3.5 | s 0 | |
| 3 | 107 | Hu Ting-Rey | 1562 | TPE | 3.0 | w ½ | |
| 4 | 101 | Harutyunyan Axel | 1811 | BEL | 3.0 | s 1 | |
| 5 | 64 | Gstach Jakob | 2227 | AUT | 5.0 | w 0 | |
| 6 | 106 | Al Zarooni Ahmed | 1723 | UAE | 3.0 | s 1 | |
| 7 | 83 | CM | Arias Pablo | 2084 | BOL | 4.5 | w ½ |
| 8 | 69 | FM | El Jawich Amro | 2156 | LIB | 4.0 | s 0 |
| 9 | 92 | Jacobsen Fredrik Beer | 1966 | NOR | 3.0 | w ½ | |
| 10 | 74 | Malureanu Costin-George | 2116 | ROU | 3.5 |
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