The Rwanda Chess Federation (FERWADE) has announced that its annual Genocide Memorial Chess Tournament (GMCT) will take place on June 13 and 14.

The venue of the six-round tournament which will be open to all Chess players will be communicated later this month, officials said.

Kevin Ganza, FERWADE vice president, said: "We have started receiving responses via e-mail and I expect a bigger participation, bigger in the chess history of our country. I hope many players who have been inactive will show up.”

Last year’s GMCT, which was won by Alexis Ruzigura, the only Rwandan participating in the ongoing two-week African Individual Chess Championship, in Egypt, attracted 31 players, including four ladies.

Ruzigura, now a player of Eagles Chess Club, was at the time followed by Ben Zimurinda of Vision Chess Club.

Marie Faustine Shimwa, the 2014 national female champion, was awarded as best female in last year’s GMCT.

Ruzigura and Shimwa, of NUR Chess Club, are the 2014 male and female national chess champions, respectively.

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