Category Archive

Mombasa, Kenya – May 29, 2025

Kireka Chess Club once again cemented its status as a powerhouse in nurturing young chess talent, following a brilliant performance by three of its standout players — Asaba Juliet, Muhirwa Alvin, and Wabwire Ronald — at the prestigious 2025 African Schools Individual Chess Championships, held from May 22nd to 29th in Mombasa, Kenya 🇰🇪.

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🌟 Asaba Juliet – Golden Glory in U13 Girls

A true prodigy and pride of Kireka Chess Club, Asaba Juliet delivered a sensational performance in the U13 Girls category. Scoring a near-perfect 8/9, she was crowned African Champion, earning Uganda’s only gold medal at the event. Already the reigning Uganda Open Ladies Champion, Asaba’s dominance continues to inspire the next generation of female players. Her result qualifies her for the Conditional Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title upon reaching a 1900 Elo rating.

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🥉 Muhirwa Alvin – Bronze in U15 Open

In the fiercely competitive U15 Open section, Muhirwa Alvin displayed exceptional resilience and tactical prowess. With a strong 7/9 score, he secured a well-deserved bronze medal, making him eligible for the Conditional Candidate Master (CM) title upon attaining a 2000 Elo rating. Alvin, long regarded as one of Uganda’s most promising young minds, continues to fulfill the high expectations set by his coaches and mentors at Kireka Chess Club.

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🥈 Ronald Wabwire – Silver in U11 Open

The ever-consistent Ronald Wabwire proved why he was a category favorite in the U11 Open. Finishing unbeaten with 7.5 points, Ronald clinched the silver medal, showcasing maturity and composure well beyond his years. His performance also qualifies him for the Conditional Candidate Master (CM) title upon reaching a 2000 Elo rating.

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💬 Special Thanks to Bob Were

Kireka Chess Club wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Bob Were, whose generous contribution made it possible for Asaba, Alvin, and Ronald to travel and participate in this prestigious continental championship. His support covered vital tournament expenses and ensured that these young talents represented both the club and Uganda with pride and excellence.

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♟️ A Club That Breeds Champions

These achievements are not only a testament to the individual brilliance of Asaba, Alvin, and Ronald but also to the unwavering commitment of Kireka Chess Club to developing chess talent through mentorship, training, and competitive exposure.

With such inspiring performances on the continental stage, Kireka Chess Club continues to lead by example, setting the bar high for youth chess development in Uganda and beyond.

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Congratulations to our champions – Asaba, Alvin, and Ronald – for making Kireka Chess Club and Uganda proud! 🇺🇬✨

Credit : Samuel Were

Photo credit : Chess Kenya

The 2024 Kireka Open Chess Championship, proudly organized and hosted by Kireka Chess Club, concluded in spectacular fashion on December 31st at Sports View Hotel, Kireka. This year’s edition reaffirmed the tournament’s reputation as one of Uganda’s premier chess events, drawing top-tier players from across East Africa and beyond, including South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, and Rwanda.

Spanning four days from December 28th to 31st, the event delivered thrilling encounters across all categories. After a dramatic tiebreak showdown, Matovu Abel emerged as the ultimate champion, finishing with an impressive 7/8 points. Despite a shaky start with a first-round loss, Matovu demonstrated unshakable resilience, defeating formidable opponents and clinching victory in the final tiebreak against FM Haruna Nsubuga, who also scored 7/8. Ngong Samuel Gai from South Sudan completed the top three with 6.5 points, edging out Ssonko Matthias on tie-breaks.

The Ladies’ Category was a fierce battlefield, eventually won by Nakabo Peninah with 6.5 points, showcasing both her strength and determination. She was closely pursued by WCM Ndirangu Joyce Nyaruai (Kenya), WFM Sana Omprakash Kayyar, and Kaloki Zuri (Kenya), each scoring 6 points. Ahereza Joan rounded out the top five with 5.5 points.

A major highlight of this year’s edition was the outstanding performance of junior players. Ahumuza Apollo and Ninsiima Patricia claimed top honors in the junior section, with several young participants holding seasoned players to drawn games — a clear testament to the region’s growing chess talent pool.

Other category winners included:

• Shafiq Muhebwa (SOM Academy) – Best Game of the Tournament

• Mawanda Michael – U1900 Section Champion

• Samuel Thon Ayuen – U1800 Category Winner
• Thon Mading Ngang – U1600 Champion
• Kaamu Joseph – 50+ Category Masterclass Winner

The Kireka Open Chess Championship 2024 was not just another event — it was a celebration of strategic brilliance, international camaraderie, and grassroots development, all made possible by the vision and dedication of Kireka Chess Club. Spearheaded by club patron Mr. Were Bob and supported by the Uganda Chess Federation, the tournament has grown to become a staple in the national and regional chess calendar.

With its consistent delivery of top-level organization, diverse participation, and competitive intensity, the Kireka Open continues to fulfill Kireka Chess Club’s mission of elevating chess standards in Uganda and across East Africa.

As the curtains close on this unforgettable edition, one thing is clear — Kireka Chess Club remains at the heart of East African chess excellence.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/108GNsa2-8ZJ4-yWVx1uH4XGzOM6YFw0s?usp=sharing for more photos

Credit: Samuel Were

Kireka Chess Club

Kireka Chess Club is proud to celebrate one of its finest talents, Samuel Were, who delivered a commanding performance to emerge champion of the 2024 Bungoma Open Chess Championship, held over the weekend in Bungoma, Kenya.

Were, a seasoned player and proud representative of Kireka Chess Club, claimed the Open Section title with a perfect score of 6/6, showcasing both technical brilliance and nerves of steel. His victory was punctuated by a dramatic final-round encounter with rising junior star Agoot Abuk, in which Were, despite being down a queen, executed a relentless tactical sequence that forced Abuk to part with his rook. The endgame mastery displayed was nothing short of vintage Were.

This emphatic win saw Were dethrone Kenya’s reigning champion Mehul Gohil, breaking the latter’s long-standing dominance at the Bungoma event. Were’s run was unaffected by other upsets in the field, including Patrick Kawuma—another Ugandan favorite—being held to a draw by Abuk.

Importantly, this success was made possible by the generous support of Kireka Chess Club patron Mr. Were Bob, who sponsored Samuel Were’s participation in the tournament. His continued commitment to nurturing chess excellence has once again borne fruit.

In the Ladies’ section, Jully Mutisya of Equity Bank Chess Club lived up to her billing as the top seed. Despite an early-round upset, she rallied with focus and determination, finishing on 5/6 points. Mutisya, a key player on Kenya’s national team, leveraged her vast experience to secure the title.

The 2024 Bungoma Open attracted 150 players from across Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Algeria, and South Sudan, making it a true celebration of regional chess talent. As the final open tournament of the year, it served as a perfect build-up to the National Chess Championship, set to be held from December 11–15, 2024, at Makini School in Nairobi.

Samuel Were’s triumph is not just a personal victory but a moment of pride for Kireka Chess Club. His discipline, composure, and excellence over the board embody the values the club continues to instill in all its players. Were’s victory is a testament to the competitive training environment and strong mentorship culture fostered at Kireka.

As we look ahead to more events and milestones, Kireka Chess Club remains committed to shaping champions, promoting chess excellence, and flying the Ugandan flag high across international boards.

Credit Samuel Were (Kireka Chess Club)