Uganda’s young Chess ambassadors at this Africa Junior Chess Championship, Benjamin Mukumbya and Babirye Stellah both faltered in Saurimo (Angola) on Wednesday.
The Ugandan representatives at the ongoing Africa Junior Chess Championship both fell at the hands of Algerian opposition in the first round played.
National Junior Open Champion, Mukumbya Benjamin (rated 1940) who had the Black pieces lost to Algeria’s FM Ouaret Abdelouhab (rated 2072) on board one.
In the ladies category, National Girls Junior Champion, Babirye Stellah (unrated) who also had the Black pieces put in a spirited performance but lost to Algeria’s more experienced Messaoui Amira (rated 1658).
Stellah pressed hard in the game and could easily have drawn it but the Algerian used her experience to edge it.
9 countries are participating in the Africa Junior Chess Championship with hosts, Angola fielding the biggest number of players in both categories.
The Second round will be played on Thursday with Stellah facing a Zambian while Mukumbya takes on CM Silvio Famoroso from Angola (rated 1954).
