Chess enthusiasts will be treated to some scintillating action on board one on Sunday when defending champion FM Patrick Kawuma and former champion IM Arthur Ssegwanyi go head to head at the Rwabushenyi Memorial Open Chess Championship at Nob View Hotel, Ntinda.
The tourney comes to it’s conclusion and two of the finest in the East African region will faceoff in the penultimate round.
There is a lot at stake in this matchup: from bragging rights to elos to the championship itself, the two top seeded players in the region will each hope they own the day.
The last time these two met at Rwabushenyi, spoils were shared. Kawuma can not allow a repeat of that if he is to equal FM Harold Wanyama’s record of three championships.
Stopping Ssegwanyi has however, proved difficult at this tournament. The IM has already beaten FM Haruna Nsubuga, but if anyone can hurt the professional doctor, it is the defending champion.
Ssegwanyi enters tomorrow’s game fired up following his perfect run at the Open. The rated 2335 has won all his first six games and remains the only player with a perfect run. He sits atop with 6 points and like his round seven opponent, is looking to win a third Rwabushenyi championship.
Kawuma finds himself second after drawing with Innocent Kimera in the third round. Those were elos lost, but he can regain them with victory over his former DMARK teammate.
For Kawuma to keep alive his hopes of winning a third successive championship, he needs to outsmart Ssegwanyi because a win for the latter will seal the title. Ssegwanyi will win Rwabushenyi with a round left to play if he beats Kawuma tomorrow.
