International Master Arthur Ssegwanyi, will have to outwit his most experienced opponent Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, when he makes his debut at the FIDE World Chess Cup that gets underway in Baku, Azerbaijan from 10 September to 4 October.
Ssegwanyi, will have to beat his more superior opponent to advance to the next round of the tournament. Giri, is a Russian-born Dutch former chess prodigy and Grandmaster.
He achieved the grandmaster title at the age of 14 years and 7 months.
Giri is a four-time Dutch Chess Champion (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015) and won the Corus Chess B Group in 2010. He has represented the Netherlands at three Chess Olympiads (2010, 2012, 2014).
Giri is the fourth highest rated player with a rating of 2793 as compared to Uganda’s Ssegwanyi (rated 2357).
Ssegwanyi, achieved his International Master status in April when Uganda hosted Africa Zone 4.2 Chess Championship were he collected 7 points out of 9 rounds of chess action on the board.
The former national champion is seeded 125 out of 128 participants at the event.
He becomes the first East African chess player to play at the Chess Cup, which is the World Cup of chess and attracts Grandmasters, FIDE Masters, International Masters this year’s edition has attracted African chess players from Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, Egypt and Tunisia.