AN OPEN Chess tournament that was supposed to start today has been postponed indefinitely after organisers failed to get the requisite number (9) of internationally rated players to take part in such a competition.

"The main goal was to give a FIDE rating to our unrated players. The tourney needed to have at least nine FIDE rated players but only seven players were available,” Alain Patience Niyibizi, the Ferwade General Secretary said.

The Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa (KCFA) was collaborating with Ferwade and Chess Kenya to bring an inaugural FIDE rated chess tournament to Rwanda.

Four rated players would come from Kenya, while six from Rwanda had earlier confirmed but only four, Ganza, Alexis Ruzigura, Fidele Mutabazi, and Niyibizi, were ready by Thursday afternoon.

The absence of Alexis Ruzigura and Maxence Murara affected the commencement of the tournament.

Kevin Ganza, the acting Ferwade president, said the tourney could take place "probably late in January or beginning of February.”

"We have the sponsorship. It’s only a matter of finding suitable time.”

Rwanda’s rated players:

Fidele Mutabazi               2089

Godfrey Kabera (CM)       1859

Joseph Ngendo               1835

Alexis Ruzigura (CM)       1754

Maxence Murara (CM)    1732

Theotime Rutaremara    1717

Kevin Ganza                     1709

Alain Patience Niyibizi   1554