A recap of the 2015 Rwanda Chess Championship

Kenyan chess suddenly seems so busy.

You will recall that Purity Maina was an arbiter during the recently concluded 25th World Seniors Championship in Acqui Terme, Italy.  This time we had Duke Micheka of Kenya who was an arbiter at the just concluded Rwanda National Chess Championship 2015 held in Kigali. 

 (NB- Credit to Duke Micheka for all the photos in this report)

Poster for the event.

Our own Duke Micheka on arbiter duty at the 2015 Rwanda National Chess Championship.

The Rwanda National Chess Championships 2015 was held at the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC) in Kigali. The event attracted a total of 26 players, 14 in the Open Section and 12 players in the Ladies Section. The Open Section was played from Thursday 10^th to Sunday 13^th December 2015 with the Swiss system of pairings in 9 rounds with time controls of 75mins +30 seconds increment from move one. Ladies Section was a 7 round, 60 minutes time control. 

The playing hall.

More photos of the playing hall.

After a grueling and well fought event, the Open section saw FERWADE Executive Secretary Niyibizi Alain Patience lifting the winner’s trophy with 7.5/9 points and earn himself the title of Rwanda National Champion 2015/2016 and also qualifies directly to the last phase of the Olympiad selection team event next year in May. 

Niyibizi Alain Patience (left) on his way to victory.

Last year’s defending champion CM Rizugura Alexis finished second with 7/9 points while Kagabo Mugema Eugene and Ndagiza Asad tied for joint third with 6/9 points. The winner also took home RWF 50,000 (approximately USD 70) while second and third place got RWF 30,000 and RWF 20,000 respectively. 

Juniors in action

In the Ladies Section, last year’s defending champion Shimwa Faustine defended her title to be crowned winner with a perfect score of 7/7 points. In second position was Odile Kalisa with 5/7 points while third place was Uwase Sandrine with 4.5/7 points. 

Ladies in action

The winner took home RWF 30,000 while second and third place got RWF 20,000 and RWF 10,000 respectively. 

Shimwa Faustine (left) on her way to victory

Another photo of Shimwa Faustine

Charming chess player - Happiness Mutete a student of Ecole Primaire Kinunga

Proud winners Niyibizi Alain Patience & Shimwa Faustine pose with their trophies

Duke’s trip to the beautiful and clean Kigali city was sponsored by Kasparov Chess Foundation – Africa which was to facilitate his IA norm and get the Rwanda Championship FIDE rated.

Downtown Kigali

Kasparov Chess Foundation – Africa has done a lot to promote chess in Rwanda.  In February this year the foundation sponsored the KCB Bank v Rwanda event which enabled 6 players from Rwanda to obtain their FIDE rating.

Crosstable from the historic KCB Chess Club v Team Rwanda

Downtown Kigali

Kigali skyline

The good news for us in this region is that there are plans for the 2016 Rwanda Open which will be held from 30^th January to 1^st February 2016 in Kigali.  This even will be sponsored by Kasparov Chess Foundation.