Before the recently concluded National Chess League got underway in June, the new Uganda Chess Federation announced that the league would be rated.
It was a development that excited players as this had never happened before despite constant pleas by players to have the league rated.
Majority of players here in Uganda lack a rating due to scarcity of rated events. Rating the league has always been seen as an easier option to increase the number of rated players in the country, and it has indeed brought forth to that.
UCF kept their word; the results are out and quite a number of players are all smiles. Led by the UCF Publicity Secretary David Muwanguzi, a total of 18 players have bagged a maiden rating.
Muwanguzi who went unbeaten in the league to garner 12.5 points and to scoop a gold medal on board three has earned a whopping 2102. To gain this sumptuous rating, Muwanguzi had to hit among other rated players FM Patrick Kawuma in the league.
He now becomes the 15th seed in the country, surpassing among others his Bank of Uganda teammates Morris Sangalo who by the way is his young brother and Allan Mathias Ssonko.
In the related development, 13 players have enhanced their ratings. The biggest winner here is Sangalo who gained 38 elos to earn a new rating of 2067. FM Harold Wanyama closely follows. Wanyama, a board one gold medalist in the league gained 33 elos and his new rating now reads 2290. He’s 10 points off the admired 2300 class.
UCF Treasure Isaac Munanira collected 30 points to take his tally to 2147 while the former national team coach Bob Bibasa crossed to the 2100 category with his 28 points. His new rating reads 2123 from 2095.
Simon Gonza and Farouk Fauza Kizza gained 17 and 16 points respectively to take their new ratings to 2139 [Gonza] and 2115 [Kizza] while Rajab Kamoga has a new rating of 2090 for the two points he gained.
The top three players in East Africa IM Arthur Ssegwanyi, IM Elijah Emojong and Kawuma gained only seven, one and nine points respectively. Ssegwanyi’s new rating reads 2373; Emojong’s is 2333, and Kawuma’s reads 2311.
WFM Grace Kigeni added six points to her rating taking it to 1638; WFM Goretti Angolikin now has a rating of 1619 after she gained 12 points while WFM Christine Namaganda took her tally to 1544 from 1538.
While majority beam at the sight of the FIDE site, it is not the case for Walter Okas, FM Haruna Nsubuga, Ssonko, Emmanuel Kabuye and nine others. Okas lost 37 points to drop down to 2277 from 2308, while Nsubuga gave away 22 and Ssonko lost 46 to drop down to 2094 from 2140.
The other losers in the men’s section include Veteran Joachim Okoth who lost the highest number of points [61], Edgar Ntende, Rapheal Buti, Stephen Kisuze, Grace Daniel Nsubuga and Shadrack Katinti.
WFM Ivy Clare Amoko lost 17 points. She is still seeded No.1 in East Africa but now has a rating of 1807. Joyce Kabengano dropped her rating down to 1522 after losing 25 points and Maria Nakanyike who got her maiden rating from the African Schools Individual Chess Championship in Zimbabwe dropped to 1494 from 1820.
The top ten in the country slightly changes, with Munanira making the cut. Ssegwanyi, Emojong, and Kawuma are still seeded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively, but Okas makes way for Wanyama who takes the fourth place.
Okas, Edward Ssentongo, Kabuye, Nsubuga, Okoth and Munanira complete the top ten.
The newly rated players include;
David Muwanguzi 2102
Douglas Wasswa 2031
Amos Etoru 2029
Amanuel Abraha 2017
Richard Buyinza 2016
Godfrey Luberanga 1891
Rodgers Kalema 1868
Shakuru Abdul Wagado 1851
Derrick Sanya 1850
Andrew Mangeni 1833
Henry Kimbowa 1927
Innocent Kimera 1793
Collins Ibrahim Nyombi 1715
Innocent Tamale 1691
Samuel Kiyaga 1674
Brian Tembi 1668
Shafinah Mugide 1388
Peninah Nakabo 1343
