UGANDA FIDE MASTER HARUNA NSUBUGA AND WOMAN CANDIDATE MASTER SHAKIRA AMPAIRE- Set to Represent Uganda at the 2025 African Individual Chess Championship in Egypt
Uganda’s top chess talents, FIDE Master (FM) Haruna Nsubuga and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Shakira Ampaire, are set to represent Uganda at the 2025 African Individual Chess Championship. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place from May 13 to May 20, 2025, in Egypt.
Born on December 24 in Kireka, Uganda, Haruna Nsubuga has been a formidable force and a seasonal Olympiad in Ugandan chess. He earned the FIDE Master title in 2016 and achieved a peak rating of 2263 in June 2019. Nsubuga’s aggressive and tactical playing style has led him to numerous victories, including winning both the National Juniors Championship and the Uganda National Championship in 2011—a unique achievement in Ugandan chess history
In 2024, Nsubuga clinched the African Amateurs Individual Chess Championship (U2300 Section) in Bujumbura, Burundi, with an impressive 8.5 points out of 9, defending his title from 2022 . He also won the Zabasajja Memorial Open Chess Championship in 2024, going unbeaten against top regional players .
His participation in the 2023 FIDE World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, marked a significant milestone, where he held Grandmaster Jules Moussard to a draw in the first game
Shakira Ampaire, has been a prominent figure in Ugandan women’s chess and a seasonal olympiad. She was awarded the Woman Candidate Master title in 2018 and currently holds a standard rating of 1786 . Ampaire secured the national women’s title at the 2024 Uganda Chess Championship, edging out competitors on tiebreaks
Her consistent performances have solidified her position as one of Uganda’s leading female chess players, and her participation in the upcoming African Individual Chess Championship is a testament to her dedication and skill. .
The 2025 African Individual Chess Championship in Egypt presents an opportunity for both Nsubuga and Ampaire to make direct Grand master or direct Woman Grand master. Their participation not only highlights their personal achievements but also represents the growing prominence of Ugandan chess in Africa
As they prepare to compete against the continent’s best, the Ugandan chess community and fans alike will be eagerly following their progress, hoping for outstanding performances that will further elevate Uganda’s status in the international chess arena
The 2025 African Individual Chess Championship is organized by the Egyptian Chess Federation under the jurisdiction of the Egyptian (EGY) Chess Federation. The Tournament Director is International Master (IM) Kareim Wageih, and the Chief Arbiter is International Arbiter (IA) Peter Duke Michieka Kingoina. The tournament will follow a Swiss-System format with nine rounds. It uses the standard time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment added per move starting from move one. The event is internationally rated and registered with FIDE under Event ID 421937.
Credit
Samuel Were (Uganda Chess Federation)
