Eagles Chess Club’s Fidele Mutabazi emerged winner at the end of a three-day open Chess challenge on Sunday, but a father and his son, who were second and third best, surprised the chess fraternity. Knight Chess Club’s Joseph Ngendo was second best despite suffering a startling loss inflicted in the final round by his son and eventual number three of the tournament, Eugene Kagabo, of Eagles Chess Club. All three who were awarded trophies tied at five points in the open tournament which had seven rounds. Vision Chess Club’s Ivan Mugisha was another surprise after he conquered some top players to land fourth place with 4.5 points. In the women’s five-round competition, reigning 2014 national champion, Faustine Shimwa, of NUR Chess Club trounced her colleagues in five straight wins, followed by team mate Aline Niyonsaba and Monique Uwinkesha of Eagles Chess Club, each posting three points. “The improvement of some players is commendable and the spirit of competition was high both in the women’s and the open section,” said Rwanda Chess Federation (FERWADE) vice president, Kevin Ganza. “That Faustine continues to fight for her first position is also good.” Depending on availability of sponsorship, some of the winners will participate in two upcoming international events: the Commonwealth Chess Championship to be held on June 22 – 30, in New Delhi – India; and the third ‘Rencontres Internationales des Echecs Francophones’, an annual French speaking nations’ event set for July 17 – 26 in Montreal, Canada.
