As recent as June, the first edition of the Ultimate Challenge happened.
It was a bout that saw Kenya’s 24th seed Bryan Toboso Akhanyinya battle Mehul Gohil seeded 4th in Kenya in a four round contest that was held at Chic Bobo’s in South C.
Thanks to Brian Kidula CEO and founder of Terrian Chess Academy, the match was publicized live and was broadcast on YouTube to worldwide viewers. It was a huge success that ultimately led to the birth of a couple of attention-grabbing challenges in Uganda including the Super Eight Chess Challenge that was effortlessly won by FM Patrick Kawuma and the forthcoming Ultimate Death Match Challenge.
Ugandan chess fans by now should be familiar with the name Kidula. Commonly known as the ‘Local GM’, Kidula first announced his name to Ugandans in 2014 when he unexpectedly won the Rwabushenyi Memorial Open in Blitz category, beating the likes of FM Harold Wanyama who is the undisputed No.1 blitz player in East Africa, IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, IM Elijah Emojong, FM Haruna Nsubuga and FM Kawuma to the title.
The title remains one of his biggest achievement as a player, and as the founder of Terrian Chess Academy, he’s relished greater success.
As a chess promoter, Kidula who offered to broadcast the Ultimate Death Match, has set sights on player management; something that has not been done before in this part of the world. It is a project he expects to hit ground early next year.
In an exclusive interview with Kawowo Sports, a fervent Kidula said: “In East Africa, we have players who are very good in chess and they can give other players who are established in North Africa, South Africa and other parts of the world a run for their money. But then what we have suffered from is lack of exposure caused by among others financial constraints.
“So I came up with this idea that it would be good we form players management outfit so that we can compete in events across the global; start with Africa then Europe so we can expose our players too.
“It is not that we are taking every player. We are taking those players who have established themselves that can also build the profile of the company such that when you place your bid to prospective sponsors, they can see you’re serious about the project.
I have so far had engagement with IM Elijah [Emojong], FM Haruna [Nsubuga], WFM Ivy [Amoko], and FM Harold [Wanyama] and in Kenya; there are two players who have expressed interest. CM Ricky Sang and one of the top players that I think is one of the most versed in chess theory in East Africa Mehul Gohil.
This talent can be tapped and nurtured at this stage then we can see if some strong players come in from West African community and extension; those who are passionate about it.
“So we want to set it rolling and we want to see it’s up in the next six months effectively and that involves people coming on board; travel partners, travel agencies to ensure that the players honor events in case we can’t raise the tickets then we pay them later. We want to have a trusted airline partner that we can work with. We will give them the assurance that let the players go; we will make it up to you.
“And once the players are seen to be performing, of course they will get invitations. Right now we are already in contact with a Nagy Laszlo from Hungary who runs the GM, IM and FM norms First Saturday Budapest tournaments.”
While Kidula intends to encompass ladies and lowly rated players in the region, he says for a start, the focus will be on proven players. Players who have established their profiles in the chess world.
“As an upstart, we need to show the profile of guys who can deliver because no company will want to put their name or brand on something that will make them invisible. So when we mention FM Wanyama, he’s played for the national team at the Olympiad numerous times. That’s something that can show someone there’s a place in history.
“When we talk about IM Ssegwanyi. He played at the 2015 World Championship and he held GM Anish Giri to a draw. Giri couldn’t believe a player from Africa and East Africa for that matter could hold him. So we are looking at guys with proven profiles because these guys have invested their time studying chess which I believe needs to be triggered to the next level.
“After establishing this, through them then can we go on and say we have upcoming players because we want also to nurture that. That’s what we are looking at, and then we come to juniors. As Terrian Chess Academy, we are looking at setting up a platform for such talent by building our own institution in future. Right now that’s the legacy I want to leave for chess. My desire is to produce more GMs in Africa.
The Academy that was formed in 2014 is yet to acquire sponsorship for the project but a resolute Kidula expects the project to get started in February 2018.
“Right now, we don’t have sponsors. We are just working on sponsorship. But we should be rolling early next year. By that time, we will have sent proposals so that by February, we are able to send at least one player out.”
Kidula also sees the project being considered a reference in the continent in the nearby future.
“In the next five years, we will be having a pool of talented players and it shall be the center of excellence in Africa. Because once we start next year, it will be like a trademark. We are going to have contracts, our players will have to be disciplined, we will have to monitor what they are doing even their diet. We will assign them managers because their attitude and success will determine our altitude.”
