An open Chess tournament that will give a coveted World Chess Federation (FIDE) rating to more unrated local players, kicks off today Friday at Ecole Francaise Antoine de St Exupery, in Kigali.

Last December, the Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa (KCFA), the Rwanda Chess Federation (Ferwade) and Chess Kenya considered bringing an inaugural FIDE rated chess contest to Rwanda.

However, the open event was postponed after organisers did not get the requisite nine internationally rated players to participate in such a competition. Only seven, from both countries, were available. However, five rated Kenyans and four rated Rwandans will feature in the three-day event, which, according to Ferwade Vice President, Kevin Ganza, also features three unrated players from Kenya and six from Rwanda.

Ganza said: "The tournament is largely about competing, but we (Ferwade) are also targeting having our own players rated as well as those three from Kenya.”

Rwanda’s unrated players are: Jean Baptiste Hakizimana (Remera Chess Club); Eugene Kagabo Mugema (Eagles Chess Club); Gabriel Ntabonsanganywe; Ben Tom Zimulinda and Rugema Ngarambe (all of Vision Chess Club); and Fernand Mugisha (KIST Chess Club).

Rated local players who will also take part in the competition are: Alex Ruzigura and Alain Patience Niyibizi (Eagles Chess Club); Joseph Ngendo (Knight Chess Club) and Ganza (KIST Chess Club). Rwanda’s 8 current FIDE rated players:

Fidele Mutabazi               2089Godfrey Kabera (CM)       1859Joseph Ngendo               1835Alexis Ruzigura (CM)       1754Maxence Murara (CM)    1732Theotime Rutaremara    1717Kevin Ganza                     1709Alain Patience Niyibizi   1554