Uganda secured its maiden silver medal at the African Schools Individual Chess Championships thanks to Maria Nakanyike’s A1 exhibition in Zimbabwe.
Playing under the category of U11, Nakanyike garnered seven points. The 11-year-old alongside five other youngsters missed the first two rounds due to financial predicament but that did not prevent her from extending her superiority across the continent.
After convincingly outsmarting her first six opponents, the girls’ captain headed into the final round needing to beat table leader Arona Moshobora from Botswana to finish in the podium places, and that’s exactly what she did. That victory meant Nakanyike ended the event with a 100% record. She proved a handful for her opponents as she won all her seven games.
The victory also meant Nakanyike came joint first, however, missed gold on a tie-break.
Uganda also through Naomi Peace Nabuyondo scooped a bronze medal. Nabuyonde beat Nkomo Lzwazilwenkosi in the last round to finish third with 4.5 points in the U9 category.
Other results
In the U13 section, Hamssadhwane Sivakumar came 16th with 3 points, while in the U7 category; Kitty Joyce Mary Ndagizimana came last. She managed just a draw to finish with 0.5.
In the boys’ section, Suubi Kiwanuka Lwanga missed bronze on a tie-break. The 7-year-old collected 3.5 points and tied with native Michael Chiwara, but the tie-break favored the latter.
Patrick Elijah Muwanguzi scored four points to end the event placed 13th in the U9 category, while the boys’ captain Mark Nyola Wasswa, playing under the U17 category came 11th with 2.5points.
Paul Kevin Wasswa Mwanje managed 1.5points and came second last in his category, while Victor Kanyike and Edwin Pido each secured 4.5 points in their respective categories.
