The Zone 4.2 African Individual Chess Championships return on Thursday with fascinating duels lined up for the day in the fifth round in both categories.
Kenya’s top seed player Peter Gilruth comes face to face with Uganda’s Fide Master Patrick Kawuma on board two, while Egyptian Grandmaster Essam El Gindy meets his fellow Egyptian, International Master Ameir Moheb on board one, with both sets of players looking to claim to the top spot in the Open category.
The quartet are tied on 3.5 points heading into tomorrow’s games, however, the Kenyan leads the section on a tie-break.
“Gilruth has always been strong and now he seems to be on top of his game yet he is clocking 60’s. They have similar styles, both patient. I expect it to be along game,” retired chess player Harold Wanyama said of the Kawuma-Gilruth game.
For the third time in a row, Ethiopia’s Candidate Master Fekadu Desalegn will face a Ugandan. The local favourite lost to Kawuma and won against Joshua Katumba, and now faces Haruna Nsubuga in the fifth round.
Katumba has a date with Tegbar Zerihun on board 10.
Woman Fide Master Ivy Clare Amoko will try to revive her hopes of winning the event when she faces Beyene Teklu Masho on board three, and on board five, Shakira Ampaire takes on Ruth Leykun.
Esther Peninnah Nannozi will play Derso on board seven.
