Kenya’s Ben Magana was the hero who made East Africa proud in the first round of the Zone 4.2 Africa Chess Championship after holding Egyptian Grandmaster El Gindy Essam to a hard fought draw in a long same colored Bishop and Rook ending with Magana having an extra Pawn.
Most of the Ugandan players had a field day with 7 of the 8 players winning their first game. The only male player who lost in the first round, Daniel Baagadde lost to a fellow Ugandan FM Arthur Ssegwanyi.
In the ladies category, it’s only Christine Namaganda and Joan Nakimuli who lost with the former losing to an Egyptian while the latter lost to a fellow Ugandan. Phiona Mutesi, Goretti Angolikin, Grace Kigeni and Ivy Amoko won their games. Amoko simply massacred her Ethiopian her Ethiopian opponent in record time.
It is only IM Elijah Emojong who seemed to have unconvincingly won against Ethiopia’s Tadese Estube.