CNA Chess Club seizes top spot as National League heats up

CNA Chess Club surged to the summit of the national chess league after an impressive showing in rounds five and six, amassing 16 points to edge past defending champions Kireka A by a single point.

The standout moment of the weekend came in a high-stakes clash, where CNA dismantled fellow title contenders Gambit with a dominant 5–1 victory. Meanwhile, Kireka A kept their title hopes alive by defeating Mulago Kings 4–2 in a crucial must-win encounter.

The race remains tight, with Gambit, Kireka Panthers, Western Express, and Kireka Salty all locked at 15 points, just one behind the leaders. Western Express, one of the league’s international entrants, secured their place in the top five after edging Bulemeezi 4–2.

Uganda Chess Federation president Emmanuel Mwaka praised the league’s growing competitiveness, attributing it to enhanced financial incentives.

“We made a deliberate decision to maintain the first prize at 10 million shillings. This has raised the stakes and drawn top talent from across the region,” Mwaka noted.

Now featuring 57 teams including clubs from Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, and India, the league continues to expand in scale and reputation. With Round Seven scheduled for later this month, the battle for supremacy is far from over.

Selected Results

CAN 5-1 Gambit

Kireka A 4-2 Mulago Kings

Kireka panthers 6-0 Crestals

Bulemeezi 2-4 Western Express

MUK A 2-4 Kireka Salty

Round Seven fixtures

Western Express vs CNA

Gambit vs Kireka A

Kireka Salty vs Kireka Panthers

Crestals vs Mulago Kings

Lighthouse Atoma vs Bulemeezi Diatoms