Uganda’s chess team at the ongoing African Games in Ghana finished 12th in the Mixed Team Rapid after losing two of the event’s six rounds played on Saturday at Alisa Hotel in Accra.

The team, composed of two players including Fide Master Harold Wanyama and Peninah Nakabo pawned off the event with two draws against Ghana C and the continent powerhouse Egypt.

Wanyama lost his game against Egypt to the continent’s top rated player, Grandmaster Amin Bassem, but Nakabo’s impressive win against Woman Grandmaster Wafa Shahenda ensured the game ended in a stalemate.

Uganda who started the competition ranked 10th beat Ghana A in the fourth round, but defeats to Algeria and Botswana in the 3rd and 5th round respectively, and their draw against Mozambique in the final round had them finish two places below their starting rank.

Neighbors Kenya lost three games, but their two wins saw them finish a place above Uganda.

Egypt with 10 points took home the Gold medal while Algeria with 9 and Madagascar with 8 walked away with silver and bronze respectively.

The Mixed Team Rapid is one of the six chess events being contested for in Ghana. With it’s conclusion, attention will now shift to the Men’s Rapid and the Women’s Rapid that will happen on Sunday.

The two Ugandans will hope to finish in the medal positions in their respective sections tomorrow. Wanyama in particular will seek to emulate or better his 2019 performance.

The FM became the first Ugandan chess player to win a medal at these games when he won bronze at the 12th edition that was hosted by Morocco in 2019.