Overwhelming attendance at the 2023 Dove Easter Junior chess championship open

At least 230 youngsters took part in the 5^th edition of the Dove Easter Junior open chess championships at the Shree Sahajanand school Uganda in Bukoto on Holy Saturday, 8^th April 2023.

This tranquil day-long tournament was organized by Dove Chess Academy with the chief and main arbiters as IA, FI Christopher Turyahabwe and Patrick Mukasa respectively.

Woman FIDE Master Christine Namaganda, the tournament director and founder of Dove Chess Academy sung special praise of all the players, their schools, clubs, sponsors, media and the host school.

We have had an overwhelming turn up of players. I thank the key stakeholders who have made this tournament a complete success, ranging from the players, schools, clubs, sponsors, media and the host school. Thank you a lot.

Woman FIDE Master Christine Namaganda, the tournament director and founder of Dove Chess Academy

The players were divided in the different age categories from U-6, U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, rated and open; playing 7 rounds according to the Swiss system of play.

Top performers:

The top three players per age category were rewarded with medals with the champion getting a trophy.

There were certificates to all teams and outstanding players as well.

U-6:

Alexander Teodor Tohouo (International French School, Kampala) won the boys’ U-6 section with 6 points.

He was ahead of Meyer Llai Mpanga (Agakhan) and Joram Muyingo (Frobel Primary School) with 4.5 points and 3 points respectively.

Girls:

Debutant Lalani Nuha of Acorns International School won the girls’ U-6 category with 4 points.

“I feel very happy to win in my first ever competitive tournament. I thank my father for supporting and the coach” an excited Nuha revealed.

Talitha Rwabose (Kings Christian School) came second with 4 points as Korra Kahumuza of the The North Green School was third with 3 points.

U-8:

TLC Academy Kamwokya’s Francis Tumusiime was unbeaten in the boys’ U-8 category, amassing a maximum 7 points.

He was followed by Khetani Abizzar (Acorns International School) on 5.5 points and Gerald Raval Hridhaan with 5 points.

Girls:

Kirsten Macrena Mwanje of Hillside Primary school, Naalya won the girls’ U-8 category with 4.5 points.

She was half a point between than Annie Amani Mpanga (Agakhan) and Francisca Mugagga (Seeta Junior School) who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

U-10:

In the boys’ U-10 section, Kish Manuel Mwanje of Hillside Primary school, Naalya scooped gold with the maximum 7 points, ahead of Elvin Mukisa (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) with 5.5 points for silver.

Another TLC Academy Kamwokya player, Daniel Odokonyero finished on the podium with 5 points for the bronze medal.

Girls:

Juliet Asaba (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) won gold in the girls’ U-10 with 5.5 points.

Suhani Anil Yadav from the host school, Shree Sahajanand School, Bukoto took silver with 5 points and Kayla Mulindwa of Peak Primary School settled for bronze with 3.5 points.

U-12:

Alvi Muhirwa (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) won the category of boys’ U-12 with 6 points.

Samora Omara took silver with 5.5 points as Innocent Baguma (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) finished with 5 points for the bronze.

Girls:

Maria Winnie Nakyeyune (All Saints) won gold in the girls’ U-12 on 6 points.

Viena College’s Dasha Zalwango also scored 6 points but fell short on tie breaker to settle for silver.

Meanwhile, Ruth Thelma (Peak Primary School) finished with 5.5 points to take bronze.

U-14:

Hadriel Lubyaayi won the U-14 boys’ category with 6 points, half a point ahead of Gabriel Bodman Kirabo.

Christian Ishimwe took bronze with 5 points.

In the girls’ section, Deus Wabasa was winner on 5.5 points.

Ariella Sherry Agaba also had 5.5 points but took silver on tie breaker rules as Lisa Aloyo scored 5 points to take bronze.

U-16:

The boys’ U-16 category was won by Elvin Kabanda Bogere with 7 points.

The runners up was Ishan Sarang (6 points) and Amos Tumine – (5 points) took third place.

Girls:

Merisa Kisakye (4 points) won gold in the girls’ U-16 section.

Kisakye was followed by Elizabeth Nagitta (3 points) and Shirley Nanyondo (3 points).

Rated:

In the rated category, TLC Academy Kamwokya’s Jacob Kairu was victorious with six points during the boys’ gender with 6 points.

She was followed by Zion Kazoora Siima from Seeta High Green with 6 points.

In the third place, Don Kamami Muiruri (Rainbow International School) also scored six points.

Girls:

The winner in the girls’ category was Sarah Nakalyowa (Gombe High School) with 5 points ahead of Gombe High School’s Hailey Michelle Nio (4 points) and Ryanna Aviela Nakijjoba (Wampeewo Ntake) who also got four points.

Open Category:

Cliford Bulindi of Wampeewo Ntake school won the open category with six points ahead of Terrence Zikuzoka (Kampala Diplomatic School) who also scored six points.

The bronze medalist was Pius Mugisha (Wampeewo Ntake) with six points apiece.

Girls:

The girls’ open category was dominated by Wampeewo Ntake school.

The winner was May Nakubugo with four points, Phoebe Kusasira (three points) and Martha Kenyonyozi (three points).

The theme for the day was “Social Connectedness”.

Moses Kirinya, the principal Shree Sahajanand School, Uganda handed over all the trophies to the champions.

Kirinya was humbled for the opportunity to host such a prestigious children’s tournament.

“We are so privileged to have such a tournament hosted at our school. We partnered with Dove Chess Academy to have the tournament and it was a success. It will help in talent scouting and development” Kirinya noted.

Partners and sponsors:

Dove Chess Academy joined hand with several stakeholders as MIND Nest Uganda, KNAR, Novato Chess club, Rotary club of Naguru, Kampala and Shree Sahajanand school Uganda – Bukoto (hosts) to make the tournament a success.

Top performers:

U-6:

Boys:

• Winner: Alexander Teodor Tohouo (International French School, Kampala) – 6 points
• 2^nd: Meyer Llai Mpanga (Agakhan) – 4.5 points
• 3^rd: Joram Muyingo (Frobel Primary School) – 3 Points

Girls:

• Winner: Lalani Nuha (Acorns International School) – 4 Points
• 2^nd: Talitha Rwabose (Kings Christian School) – 4 Points
• 3^rd: Korra Kahumuza (The North Green School) – 3 Points

U-8:

Boys:

• Winner: Francis Tumusiime (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 7 Points
• 2^nd: Khetani Abizzar (Acorns International School) – 5.5 Points
• 3^rd: Gerald Raval Hridhaan – 5 points

Girls:

• Winner: Kirsten Macrena Mwanje (Hillside Primary school, Naalya) – 4.5 Points
• 2^nd: Annie Amani Mpanga (Agakhan) – 4 Points
• 3^rd: Francisca Mugagga (Seeta Junior School) – 4 Points

U-10:

Boys:

• Winner: Kish Manuel Mwanje (Hillside Primary school, Naalya) – 7 Points
• 2^nd: Elvin Mukisa (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 5.5 Points
• 3^rd: Daniel Odokonyero (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 5 Points

Girls:

• Winner: Juliet Asaba (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 5.5 Points
• 2^nd: Suhani Anil Yadav (Shree Sahajanand School, Bukoto) – 5 Points
• 3^rd: Kayla Mulindwa (Peak Primary School) – 3.5 Points

U-12:

Boys:

• Winner: Alvi Muhirwa (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 6 points
• 2^nd: Samora Omara – 5.5 Points
• 3^rd: Innocent Baguma (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 5 Points

Girls:

• Winner: Maria Winnie Nakyeyune (All Saints) – 6 Points
• 2^nd: Dasha Zalwango (Viena College) – 6 Points
• 3^rd: Ruth Thelma (Peak Primary School) – 5.5 Points

U-14:

Boys:

• Winner: Hadriel Lubyaayi – 6 Points
• 2^nd: Gabriel Bodman Kirabo – 5.5 Points
• 3^rd: Christian Ishimwe – 5 Points

Girls:

• Winner: Deus Wabasa – 5.5 Points
• 2^nd: Ariella Sherry Agaba – 5.5 Points
• 3^rd: Lisa Aloyo – 5 Points

U-16:

Boys:

• Winner: Elvin Kabanda Bogere – 7 points
• 2^nd: Ishan Sarang – 6 Points
• 3^rd: Amos Tumine – 5 Points

Girls:

• Winner: Merisa Kisakye – 4 Points
• 2^nd: Elizabeth Nagitta – 3 points
• 3^rd: Shirley Nanyondo – 3 Points

Rated:

• Winner: Jacob Kairu (TLC Academy, Kamwokya) – 6 Points
• 2^nd: Zion Kazoora Siima (Seeta High Green) – 6 Points
• 3^rd: Don Kamami Muiruri (Rainbow International School) – 6 Points

Girls:

• Winner: Sarah Nakalyowa (Gombe High School) – 5 Points
• 2^nd: Hailey Michelle Nio (Gombe High School) – 4 Points
• 3^rd: Ryanna Aviela Nakijjoba (Wampeewo Ntake) – 4 Points

Open:

Boys:

• Winner: Cliford Bulindi (Wampeewo Ntake) – 6 Points
• 2^nd: Terrence Zikuzoka (Kampala Diplomatic School) – 6 Points
• 3^rd: Pius Mugisha (Wampeewo Ntake) – 6 Points

Girls:

• Winner: May Nakubugo (Wampeewo Ntake) – 4 Points
• 2^nd: Phoebe Kusasira (Wampeewo Ntake) – 3 Points
• 3^rd: Martha Kenyonyozi (Wampeewo Ntake) – 3 Points