After an undesirable start, Uganda’s lone representative at the ongoing Commonwealth Chess Championships in New Delhi, India, WFM Christine Namaganda finally won a game.
The former national champion stomached an unpleasing start to the championships, losing her first three games. She lost to two natives, Cholleti Sakshi and Y Saranya in the first two rounds before being CM Aron Klevansky’s first victim at the annual event.
The aforementioned are rated above her by FIDE which partly explains her defeats. Obviously ratings don’t win games, but they are achieved and bettered through one’s strength.
Namaganda’s triumph came in the fourth round. She was paired against another Indian, but this time, one rated below her. It was a chance that the rated 1565 took with both hands as she made sure of her first victory at the tourney.
And while she lost the fifth round to G Abirama Srinithi, the Olympian added a ½ a point to her first as she drew against Lalasa Madhura Chennakesavula in the subsequent round.
The five-time national champion had dropped down to the bottom position following her defeat to Klevansky, but the 1.5 point has lifted her nine places up the table. She sits 109 on the table standings.
She is currently battling Bangladesh’s Woman International Master Rani Hamid in the seventh round. Both players are on 1.5.
