2016 Chess Olympiad team composition finalised

After the final round in the women’s qualifiers on Sunday, the complete national team’s composition is now clear—the team of five ladies includes two teens, qualified to represent Rwanda at the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan on September 1. Shimwa during the recent 2016 Africa Zone 4.2 Chess Championship in Tz. (Courtesy) After the qualifiers which started two weeks ago at Classic Hotel and concluded on Sunday at IPRC-Kicukiro, Marie-Faustine Shimwa, the reigning female national champion, led the table with 7.0 points followed by youngster, Sandrine Uwase, with 5.0 points. Aline Niyonsaba, Odile Kalisa and Joselyne Uwase; finished third, fourth and fifth respectively with 4.0 points each. When qualifiers for the open section of the national team wrapped up at the end of last month, Candidate Masters (CMs) Godfrey Kabera and Alexis Ruzigura led the group. Others are; Eugene Mugema Kagabo, Valentin Rukimbira, and Alain Patience Niyibizi. Rwanda Chess Federation (FERWADE) president Kevin Ganza says plans are under way to up the team’s training so as to ensure a good performance in Baku. He admits that the Olympiad is a tough affair and that Rwanda’s representatives have to work harder than ever before, if they are to make any impression in Baku. Ganza said: “It is a good team composed of deserving players both in the open section and in the women section. For the ladies, we couldn’t have a better team composition than the one we have.” “The plan now is to encourage both teams to keep practicing harder so that they are in a better shape come September,” he noted. The Chess Olympiad –the World Cup of chess - is a biennial chess tournament where teams from all over the world compete. The national teams’ registration for the 2016 Chess Olympiad, a two week competition, ends on June 30. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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2016 Chess Olympiad team composition finalised