Kireka completed the defense of the National Chess League title on Sunday with a commanding victory over MUBS at Hotel Africana.
The Blues went into the thirteenth round well aware that victory over the University side would see them retain the title with a round spare, and victory they got.
Like it’s been in most of their games, the side met no resistance against MUBS as they ran out 5-0 winners on the final day of the campaign. International Master Arthur Ssegwanyi, Fide Master Haruna Nsubuga, Simon Isiko, Edgar Ntende and Woman Fide Master Goretti Angolikin were the ones tasked to complete the job, and that they did convincingly.
It was a routine win in the final round of the season as well as they beat Lweza 3.5-0.5, with the trio of IM Ssegwanyi, FM Nsubuga and Simon Gonza winning their respective boards while WFM Angolikin drew against Victoria Nakirwade and Ntende lost to Innocent Buwule.
The final day victories meant Kireka who were without FM Harold Wanyama on Sunday defended the title with 39 points. Enroute to their second successive title, Kireka won all rounds bar one. Only SOM Katwe proved a hard nut to crack for the side captained by Ivan Kaddu, and that loss came early in the season in the third round.
SOM finished the season placed second with 35 points. Like the champions, they suffered a defeat just once throughout the campaign, but shared spoils on two occasions. Hot on their heels was the record league winners Dmark who came third with 34 points.
Kireka’s sister club Kireka B came fourth with 28 points and Bank of Uganda complete the top five with 27 points.
The bottom sides include Stands Chess Club, Mulago Queens, UCU Queens, Royal Knights and Maisha Chess Club in the descending order.