KAMPALA – Dark clouds gathered over the chess fraternity on Tuesday with the unfortunate news that Olympian Shadrack Kanti ti had passed on.
The 42-year-old had been battling acute liver failure and was pronounced dead on arrival at Rubuga hospital, leaving the chess family in mourning as they tried to digest the tragedy.
“As we celebrate the life of Kantinti, I would like to thank him for his dedicated service and commitment to Ugandan Chess . Ten Olympiads is a huge record that will take a while before it’s broken. He has been one of our best players and his contribution to chess has been priceless. As a community, we will dearly miss him. Rest in Peace my Dear Friend Shadrack.” Read a message from Uganda Chess Federation’s vice president Isaac Otim.
Kantinti represented the country a record ten times at the World Chess Olympiad between 1998 and 2018. He will be remembered for his aggressive chess. Such was the trait that ensured he returned home from Mallorca, Spain in 2006 as the best player in the team having garnered seven points from a possible thirteen on board two.
“I remember once I came to Uganda many years ago for NRM Open I think. I played him with white, he essayed the Sicilian. Somewhere in the middlegame, boom! He sacced an exchange for unclear counterplay. I fought hard to contain his mischievous pieces dancing all over my position. Just when I thought everything was under control, boom! Guy unleashes a second exchange sac. So in effect it was my 2 rooks vs his BISHOP pair. My king met an untimely death somewhere in the centre of the board. Tribute to the resilience of Mr. Shadrack Kantinti. Rest in peace, my chess colleague.” Remembered Kenya’s Candidate Master Ben Magana.
Kantinti will be laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kitigoma, Buikwe district on Thursday.
