As far as inspiring ideas can go, there can be precious few in the local chess fraternity that can better the Ultimate Death Match.
While the match that is expected to electrify the local chess world as it will have the top six players in the East African region battle on board is yet to happen, it has led to the birth of another interesting challenge- The Super Eight Rapid Chess Challenge.
The Super Eight, scheduled to take place on 1st July at Comrades Arena, Wandegeya is basically a rapid mini tourney that will involve eight players namely Simon Gonza [2115], Thomas Katairo [1968], John Kafuko [1966], Emmanuel Mukose [1934], Edgar Ntende [2062], Joshua Katumba [1832], FM Haruna Nsubuga [2217] and FM Patrick Kawuma [2313] who was invited after Rajab Kamoga pulled out due to a busy schedule.
They are without a doubt potential International Masters, and what a curtain raiser this will be!
While Kawuma and Nsubuga- two of the six contestants in the Ultimate Death Match- are part of the Super Eight, the duo needs no introduction. So we will look at the other six. Who are they?
Gonza
Commonly known as ‘Gonzalez’, Gonza is one of the very few Ugandans who have represented the country at the World Chess Olympiad. At the 2016 Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, the rated 2115 lost only two games out of the seven he played as he registered 3 points on board three en route to Uganda’s 126th finish in the Open category.
In the local league, he was one of the instrumental figures last year as Kireka won the league to end Dmarks’ dominance. He was named the 2016 Most Consistent Player by the club following their triumph.
Katairo
This lad is a fast rising star. Not only has he showed his superiority against players in his bracket, he has made known of his quality to those ranked way higher than him. At the recently concluded Genocide Memorial Chess tourney in Rwanda, the player – seeded 22nd in the country displayed some enviable chess and almost had the No.3 seed in the region Kawuma for dinner.
The rated 1968 drew with Kawuma in what was his game to take in the last round. He won gold in the league last year following his dominant displays on board four. Added to that, Katairo qualified for Zone 4.2 Individual Chess Championships that took place in Ethiopia four months ago on merit following his third finish at the Zonal Qualifiers, but failed to represent due to financial hitches.
Ntende
Ntende’s feel-good factor arrived last year when he against all odds, topped the first Phase of the Olympiad Qualifiers. While he faltered along the way and eventually failed to qualify for the Olympiad, Ntende earned a smashing rating of 2100+- his first rating. Like his teammate Gonza, he helped his team Kireka win the league last year.
Katumba
The new titled player in the country is gradually bettering his game. Katumba qualified for the Zonal Championships in Ethiopia- his maiden continental showpiece- when he came fourth in the Qualifiers. It is from Ethiopia that he earned the Candidate Master title after he garnered the required 4.5 points. A very resolute player who had set sights on the IM title prior the Zonals, Katumba beat FM Harold Wanyama last year in the third round at the inaugural Kireka Open in one of the tournament’s shockers.
Kafuko
Mention this name in the presence of Kawuma and he will without a doubt hark back to the Eastern Classic Chess tourney that was held two months ago. Kafuko stunned the Olympian in the second round at the event. He is day by day perfecting his game and is one of the promising players in the league.
Mukose
Once a big gun, Mukose is trying to regain his mojo and fame. The player was once one of the big deals in the country and rubbed shoulders with the big boys, but his relocation to the USA did a disservice to him so to say. The rated 1934 is trying to regain his position at the table of men.
According to Katairo, the purpose of this match is to ‘help increase the exposure of players’ and he says the two FMs “will make the tournament stronger and we will learn a thing or two from them.”
