CNA CHESS CLUB DEFEATS GAMBIT CHESS CLUB TO TAKE COMMANDING LEAD IN NATIONAL CHESS LEAGUE 2025

_{^{MATCH DAY 4 SOM CHESS ARENA}}, _{^{KAMPALA UGANDA}}

The 2025 Uganda National Chess League reached boiling point after Round 6, with CNA Chess Club defeating Gambit Chess Club in a battle to seize a consolidated lead at the top of the table.

Captained by former Olympian Gonza Simon, CNA now leads with 16 match points and 28 game points, one step ahead of defending champions Kireka A and match day 3 leaders Gambit, who trail by a single match point.

CNA’s strength lies in its powerful line-up:

• Board 1: FM Patrick Kawuma – Uganda’s solid genius and Olympian
• Board 2: Sonko – ex Olympian
• Board 3: Kamoga Rajab – unpredictable and battle-hardened
• Board 6: Amoko Ivy – Olympian, once the highest-rated woman in East Africa

LEAGUE DAY BRILLIANT GAMES

• Tamale Innocent vs Gonza Simon – Mulago’s Tamale spoiled the CNA captain’s day with a thrilling upset win in a tactical brilliancy

• FM Patrick Kawuma vs Harold Wanyama – The game of the day. Kawuma unleashed a brilliant knight sacrifice in the opening, leaving Uganda’s National Coach in what one would described as a “deep dark forest, where 1+1=3, and the only route to safety was known only to Kawuma himself.” With precision, Kawuma converted his initiative into a crushing victory, securing CNA’s team win.

Standings After Round 6 – Top 3

1️⃣ CNA Chess Club – 16 Match Points, 28 Game Points
2️⃣ Kireka A – 15 Match Points, 28.5 Game Points
3️⃣ Gambit Chess Club – 15 Match Points, 28 Game Points

📊 57 Chess Clubs/Teams | 684+ Participants | 4 Federations Represented (Uganda 🇺🇬, Kenya 🇰🇪, South Sudan 🇸🇸, India 🇮🇳)

Round 7 Fixtures – Decisive Battles Ahead

• Table 1: Western Express 🆚 CNA Chess Club
• Table 2: Gambit 🆚 Kireka A
• Table 3: Kireka Salty 🆚 Kireka Panthers
• Table 4: Crestals 🆚 Mulago Kings
• Table 5: Lighthouse Atoma 🆚 Bulemeezi Diatoms Chess Club

While CNA leads, Kireka A – the defending champions are closing in fast and Gambit is hungry to bounce back in Round 7. With the league broadcasted worldwide and every game now carrying weight, the 2025 National Chess League promises a finish that could go down in history.

For now, though, the crown sits firmly on CNA’s head the race is still head on.

For more games: https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-uganda-national-chess-league/round-2/GioGeuWR#boards

Credit Samuel Were