By Boniface Mande
CHESS-Chess Legend Gary Kasparov, through his Gary Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa, has bankrolled the Uganda Chess Championship.Kasparov provided an undisclosed sum of money towards organizational expenses and prize money.The money among mothers will cater for prizes for the championship.
The winner of the championship shall receive Shs 1,500,000, while the runner up is expected to get Shs 1,000,000.The second runner up shall receive Shs.750,000.
To create gender balance, the winner in the ladies category shall get Shs 750,000 while the runner up in that category shall get Shs 500,000.The third runner up shall receive Shs.250,000.
The championship has also catered for young talent, by offering Shs.250,000 for the best junior contestant.
In a marked difference from the past, the Uganda Chess Championship has been renamed as the Ugandan Open Chess Championship.This implies that foreign participants will be allowed, something that the organizers and Kasparov believe will improve the competitive nature of the tournament.
Fred Lubega, a Chess Fan, who spoke to us says “the developments are good. First Ugandan Chess shall improve with the support from a big name like Kasparov. The prizes are good for motivating people to compete and to win something.”
