Kireka’s search for a second successive National Chess League title continues on Sunday at Hotel Africana, with the side facing veteran Grace Daniel Nsubuga’s Mulago Kings in the eleventh round.
The defending champions were heavy winners against Aviation and Makindye in the ninth and tenth round respectively a couple of weeks ago, and now head into tomorrow’s game looking to maintain their slim lead at the top of the table.
Kireka lead the table standings with 27 points, one ahead of second placed SOM Katwe who appear determined to give the table leaders a run for their money. With four rounds left to the end of the campaign, and with SOM just a step below Kireka, the side knows there’s no room for error if a successive league title is to be won.
Given their remaining opponents, achieving that should be easier for the side that has International Master Arthur Ssegwanyi, Fide Master Harold Wanyama, FM Haruna Nsubuga, Simon Gonza and Woman Fide Master Gorreti Angolikin as their arsenal.
Robert Katende’s SOM play Bank of Uganda in Sunday’s opening round. Not an easy tie for the side given their opponents harbor some of the best players in the league. The country’s seventh seed, Allan Mathias Ssonko, WFM Grace Kigeni, David Muwanguzi who stunned Dmark’s FM Patrick Kawuma two weeks ago in the ninth round all turn up for BOU, not forgetting IM Elijah Emojong who shockingly joined the side two weeks ago.
BOU also have Morris Sangalo. However, his services will be missed against SOM as he’s off honeymooning. After beating Walter Okas last game week, Sangalo and his queen walked down the aisle last Saturday at Miracle Center Cathedral, Rubuga.
Okas and his Dmark teammates face Makerere University Business School [MUBS] in the eleventh round looking to put up a better display compared to their previous two. Dmark beat both BOU and Kireka B in their previous two engagements, but were hard fought victories.
They sit third in the league with 22 points. The side has seven wins to their name, drawn once and lost a couple of rounds.