Today: Round 9

Open: Rwanda vs Central African Republic

Fidele Mutabazi (1818) vs Sabbas Ndoma Libert

CM Maxence Murara (1789) vs Vianney Bebondi

Joseph Nzabanita (1849) vs Florent Kourakoumba

Alain Niyibizi (1756) vs Cedric Ngackossi-Ngoulaka

Women: Mozambique vs Rwanda

WIM Vania Vilhete (1752) vs Odile Kalisa Kayitesi

Katina Efentakis (1451) vs Layola Murara Umuhoza

Cheila Andre Sitoe (1545) vs Aline Niyonsaba

Sheila Sitoe (1425) vs Christelle Uwamahoro

Rwanda’s Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Joselyne Uwase, 15, is being rested today as her women team faces Mozambique in round 9, while their Open team counterparts take on the Central African Republic (CAR) at the 43rd Chess Olympiad 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) on Monday confirmed the WCM title to Uwase – a Chess Olympiad debutante – soon after winning her fourth game.

She is the first Rwandan girl, or woman, to get the title.

The youngster put up a good show when she won three matches in succession on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The decision to allow her to rest came after she suffered spells of headache since Monday, but battled on, courageously.

"The girl is tired and she needs to rest. And she has done a very good job, really. She worked hard and we are all proud to have her on the team,” said Rwanda chess federation president, Kevin Ganza.

"She will resume on Thursday and Friday to try grabbing the WFM [Woman FIDE master] title.”

During round 8, on Tuesday, Uwase’s teammates were put to the sword by opponents from Lesotho, but she stood firm.

Long after others had lost and left the playing hall, she was still determinedly attacking Lesotho’s Likhomo Malehloa until the latter resigned on the 61st move. The fifth win put her a step closer to the WFM but a lot will be determined by her performance in the last two games.

The Open team snatched a draw in round 8 after CM Maxence Murara and Joseph Nzabanita grabbed wins on board one and two, respectively. The Open team heads into round 9 Wednesday afternoon with 6.5 points facing CAR which has 8 points.

All Rwandan teams missed the first round on Monday last week.

Without their star player, Rwanda’s women head into round 9 having collected 10.5 points while Mozambicans have 9.5 points.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw