The trio of Arthur Ssegwanyi, Elijah Emojong and Harold Wanyama enjoyed a perfect start at the Tanzania Open Chess Championship that got underway this morning at Peacock Hotel, Dar es Salaam with each winning their first two rounds.
Ssegwanyi met the toughest opponents with native Emmanuel Mwaisumbe providing opposition in the first round, and fellow countryman Haruna Nsubuga in the subsequent round but the international Master was able to show why he is rated top in the region.
Emojong outsmarted Primulus Kasaija and Geoffrey Mwanyika in the first and second round respectively, while Wanyama convincingly saw off David Martin Otude Byoga and Candidate Master Yusuf Mdoe.
The Zambians are however, atop on tie-break. Against Musa Mangula and Deo Ntagasigumwami in his first two rounds, IM Mwali Chitumbo was untouchable, and so was Kela Siame Kaulule who beat Ugandan Woman Fide Master Christine Namaganda and Tanzanian CM Nurdin Hassuji.
However, Shiza Athuman with a low rating of 1618 handed IM Gillan Bwalya the shock of his life. The Zambian came as one of the title favourites, and although he won his second game, the loss left him 21 places adrift of the summit.
The games return tomorrow with the third and fourth round.
