Uganda Chess Ladies Team ride giant-killing form

Pre-tournament seedings are fast becoming little more than numbers on paper for Uganda’s Women’s Chess Team at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad.

Entering the final stretch of the eleven-round Swiss system championship with just three rounds remaining, the Chess She Cranes have captured attention across the global chess community.

Seeded 87th in the fiercely competitive field with an average Elo rating of 1894, the Ugandan squad has torn up the script, engineering a campaign defined by grit, tactical composure, and scalp-taking performances against much higher-rated opponents.

The team comprising Woman International Master (WIM) Sana Omprakash Kayyar, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Juliet Asaba, WCM Patricia Kawuma, Olivia Asiimwe, and WCM Shakira Ampaire has proven that they belong among the world’s elite competitors.

Uganda’s campaign along the historic Silk Road started with a statement. In the opening round, the Ladies from Uganda swept the Democratic Republic of Congo 4-0, powered by clean individual board sweeps from Sana, Ampaire, Kawuma, and Asaba.

Though a heavy 4-0 stumble against a formidable Croatia side in Round 2 brought an immediate reality check, Uganda’s hallmark in Samarkand has been an uncanny ability to rebound.

The Bounce Backs: The team instantly answered the Croatian setback with another flawless 4-0 rout of Fiji in Round 3. Later, when confronted by Cape Verde in the fifth round, Uganda secured a dominant 3½–½ victory behind wins from Sana, Asaba, and Asiimwe, alongside a steady draw by Ampaire.

Testing the Giants: Against European powerhouses like Lithuania and Denmark, the She Cranes showcased ironclad nerves. In Round 4, Sana impressively held Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Salomeja Zaksaite to a draw, anchoring a resilient fight against Lithuania.

The Danish masterclass and beyond

Uganda’s defining moment of the Olympiad arrived in Round 6. Facing Denmark, the Ladies delivered a stunning 3½–½ upset that resonated throughout the tournament hall.

While Sana traded blows to draw with Sarah Sima Derlich, her teammates pulled off stunning upsets against heavily favoured opponents:

• Shakira Ampaire toppled Ellen Kakulidis (rated 2088).
• Patricia Kawuma outmanoeuvred Anna Sofie Li (rated 2002).
• Juliet Asaba outclassed Sofie Bech Durrfeld (rated 2007).

The momentum carried seamlessly into Round 7, where Uganda edged Pakistan 2½–1½ thanks to clinical wins from Sana and Kawuma, coupled with Asiimwe’s crucial draw. By accumulating 12½ board points through the first seven rounds, the team solidified a reputation as one of the tournament’s most dangerous floaters.

Entering the home stretch

As the tournament moves through its demanding standard time controls 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes, with a 30-second increment from move one- the physical and mental toll is peaking. Following a developing eighth-round clash against Singapore, the squad faces its final three fixtures.

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