Two of the top five players in East Africa will come face to face on Friday when Fide Master Harold Wanyama meets International Master Elijah Emojong on board one in the fifth round of the Mombasa International Open.
The two met in last year’s edition in October which still counts as their last meeting, and settled for a draw in the sixth round.
Heading into tomorrow’s encounter, Emojong, winner of last year’s edition leads the event in the Prestige category with four points following his perfect start at the tourney. The IM has already beaten two Ugandans at the event including FM Haruna Nsubuga.
Wanyama on the other hand lost to Nsubuga in the 3rd round, but he did bounce back in the fourth round with victory over Allan Mathias Ssonko, and now sits 3rd with three points, only behind Nsubuga on a tie-break.
Emojong remains the only player in the competition yet to lose or draw a game and victory tomorrow will see his chances of defending the Open increase even higher.
With a point behind his opponent, Wanyama must win the round if he is to keep his hopes of winning the event alive.
In other selected games, Nsubuga will battle it out with Ssonko on board two as he looks to keep Emojong in check. Joseph Kaamu takes on Kenya’s Candidate Master Wachira William Wachania in other encounter that involves a Ugandan in the Prestige category.
In the Open category, Fred Okiring (3rd) faces Joseph Maigwa Ngooro (2nd) on board one. Both players have four points.
Bashir Yusuf Daahir will meet Moses Abasa Amatalo on board 12.
And in the Ladies section, Woman Fide Master Christine Namaganda will try to return to winning ways when she faces Daphne Mwikali while Ivy Kayesu will look to assume the lead when she takes on current leader Gloria Jumba in the fifth round.