SANDRINE Uwase, the reigning female national chess champion, conquered all her first three opponents in this year’s National Chess Championship that started Thursday at Onomo Hotel, in Kigali.

The four-day event comes to a climax on Sunday.

Uwase, 17, won her two games in round one on Boxing Day before adding another point after a round three win on Friday morning.

But much will be determined in round four on Friday afternoon when she meets the 2016 female national champion, Marie Faustine Shimwa, who is back in action and buoyant.

The teenager looks to win the title for a record third consecutive time.

In round one, she tamed Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Joselyne Uwase, 16.

After Shimwa, her other strong opponent will be Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Christelle Uwamahoro, 15, on Saturday.

But while the teen maintained a steady lead in the women section, Joseph Nzabanita, the 2018 national male champion, had a rough start and his chance to retain his coveted title is hanging in the balance.

By midday Friday, Nzabanita had one point – from his round one game versus Eugene Mugema Kagabo – after three rounds. He also did not show up for round three.

This puts him in a tricky position since tough contenders like Candidate Masters (CMs) Godfrey Kabera and Maxence Murara had a good start; winning all their two games Thursday and are fired up to maintain the momentum.

Last year, Nzabanita, a senior maths and statistics lecturer at the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology, dethroned Dr Ben Karenzi, while Uwase defied the odds to win all her matches and retain her title for a second time.

Sandrine Uwase, 17, has a chance to bag a record hat-trick title if she wins the championship this year.

CM Maxence Murara (L) trounced reigning champion Joseph Nzabamwita on Thursday afternoon.

CM Godfrey Kabera (R), another title contender, trounced Valentin Rukimbira in the third round on Friday morning.