BY JUMA ALI
The 16 edition of Som inter- project chess championship kicked off today at sports outreach resource centre, Kiwawu, Mityana Road. The four day event, which will come to an end on Thursday, is organized by Som chess academy.
This tournament started in 2004 and it would have been 18 years but the two years of covid -19 disrupted the tournament.
This year’s participants will compete in different categories which will include U-8, 10,12,14,16 and 18 respectively.
This tournament is only participated by qualified participants from Som chess academy program which includes, Kampala projects in Kibuli, Katwe and Bwaise, Gulu, Jinja, Kagadi, Masaka, Rwanda and Kenya.
According to Robert Katende, CEO of Som chess academy said that this year ,we were expecting more than 600 participants but due to financial problem, we managed to allow 280 participants.
Katende, went on to say that this year, they failed to invite Rwanda due to financial problem but Kenya, will be competing this year.
The winners in this edition, will walk away with medals.In today’s fixtures, Kennedy Nyakundi vs Julius Ssali, Richard Kato vs Frank Kigundu, Angel Kirabo vs Patricia Kawuma, Ivan Ntume vs Moses Kisaakye, Elvis Katumba vs Isaiah Otieno and Solomon Nambasi vs Samuel Kiyaga.
Some of the famous chess players who have participated in this tournament include, Patricia Kawuma and Carol Nabirye.