Defending champion FM Patrick Kawuma will start his Rwabushenyi Memorial Championship defense against lowly rated Janice Namiiro Mubiru at Nob View Hotel, Ntinda.
In the pairings that came out at 10:00am this morning, Kawuma meets the rated 1321 on board two. The two meet in the opening round of the championship on Thursday, and the FM will hope to easy his way past the youngster.
Kawuma, winner of the previous two editions enters the tourney ranked second behind only IM Arthur Ssegwanyi. He will be hoping to become only the second player to win the championship three times. FM Harold Wanyama holds that record with three titles.
On board one, the tournament’s top ranked player Ssegwanyi faces Vivian Namaganda, IM Elijah Emojong meets Esther Penninah Nassozi on board three while FM Haruna Nsubuga takes on Safinah Mugide on board four.
In other selected games, Kenya’s CM Ben Mangana and WFM Lucy Wanjiru go head to head with Elisha Busingye and Jayson Mubiru Nsubuga respectively.
WFM Penninah Nakabo, the top ranked lady in the competition will face off against youngster Marianna Namutebi while WFM Goretti Angolikin takes on Christine Nansubuga and WFM Shakira Ampaire meets Daniel Khauka.
On paper, the round is without a doubt a walk in the park for the top dogs. No surprises are expected as all are paired against weak opponents. The contenders are expected to face little resistance on Thursday.
The record winner Wanyama decided to sit the event out as he’s busy with work stuff. The FM did not also take part in the competition last year.
WFM Christine Namaganda and WFM Ivy Amoko are also among the notable misses. The former travelled to Dubai with her Dove Chess Academy kids to take part in the United Arab Emirates’ 48th Annual Day Rapid Chess Championship.
