Sept. 12, 2026, 6:00 AM
– Sept. 12, 2026, 6:00 PM
MUK
Makerere Open Chess Championship 2026
MUK OPEN RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT 2026
"Every pawn is a potential queen"
12th SEPTEMBER 2026
- INVITATION
A. This is the Official Invitation to the 2026 MUK Open Rapid Chess Tournament, to be held at Lumumba Hall, Makerere University, on Saturday, 12th September 2026, starting at 9:00 AM. The tournament is organized by the Makerere University Chess Society.
B. The event is open to all players — students and non-students alike.
C. The tournament will be a one-day event played over 7 Rounds using the Rapid time control of 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move. The event will be rated provided FIDE rating requirements are met. - PARTICIPATION
The tournament is open to all players, with separate prize categories for the Open and Ladies sections. - REGISTRATION
A. Registration fees are as follows:
- Makerere University students: UGX 5,000
- Other university students: UGX 20,000
- Others (general public): UGX 30,000
B. Registration deadline: Thursday, 11th September 2026, 4:00 PM
C. To register or for more details, contact:
- Luganda Ronald (Captain) — 0771 275 298
- Alupo Mercy (Asst. Captain) — 0763 743 097
- PLAYING VENUE
Lumumba Hall, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. - TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
A. Participants are responsible for their OWN travel arrangements.
B. Participants will be responsible for their own meals. Meals at Lumumba Hall range from UGX 5000 and participants are urged to plan accordingly. - EVENT SCHEDULE
The Tournament Schedule shall be as follows subject to change by the Organizer:
Activity — Time
Arrival — 8:00 AM
Opening Ceremony — 8:30 AM
Round 1 — 9:00 AM
Round 2 — 10:00 AM
Round 3 — 11:00 AM
Round 4 — 12:00 PM
Lunch Break — 1:00 PM
Round 5 — 2:00 PM
Round 6 — 3:00 PM
Round 7 — 4:00 PM
Prize Giving / Closing Ceremony — 5:00 PM
- RULES AND REGULATIONS
A. The tournament will be run using the Swiss Pairing System over 7 rounds.
B. Time control: 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move (Rapid).
C. Players who do not have an official FIDE ID must request their local chess federations to create one for them before the tournament commences.
D. Official rapid FIDE chess ratings will be used for pairing purposes and rating purposes.
E. Electronics policy — e.g. phones to be turned off during play.
F. Default losing time policy — It will be rundown time.
G. MALPRACTICE CASES WILL LEAD TO AUTOMATIC LOSS OF THE GAME AND IN EXTREME CASES WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE.
H. FIDE rules and regulations will apply.
I. Any player giving a bye without any justification will be excluded from the Event for all remaining rounds. Players who intend to miss a round must therefore inform the Chief Arbiter in advance so their name is omitted from the pairing list. - TIE-BREAK RANKINGS
The tiebreak rankings shall follow this order:
A. Points, Number of Wins, the highest number wins
B. Buchholz Cut 1 — The Buchholz System is the sum of the scores of each of the opponents of a player less the worst performed score.
C. Average Rating of Opponents.
D. Number of wins with Black — The Highest number wins.
E. Direct Encounter — if all tied players have met each other, the sum of points from these encounters will decide. The player with the highest score is ranked number 1 and so on.
Note: The above tie breaks will be used to determine final rankings. In case players have the same points, the split system will be used to distribute prizes.
- PHOTO CONSENT
By being part of the Championship, you have consented that your photos can be used on Organizers and sponsors' Media Channels for Visibility Purposes only! - DRESS CODE
All players are required to be decently dressed and therefore Shorts, Slippers, Sunglasses, Sports Caps and revealing attire are not permitted. - PRIZES AND AWARDS
Open Category
1st Place — UGX 200,000
2nd Place — UGX 150,000
3rd Place — UGX 100,000
Ladies Category
1st Place — UGX 150,000
2nd Place — UGX 100,000
3rd Place — UGX 50,000
Special Prizes and Accolades
- Best Junior (Open) — Surprise Gift
- Best Junior (Ladies) — Surprise Gift
- Medals & Trophies: 6 Medals + 2 Trophies + 2 Junior Medals
- ARBITRATION
The Chief Arbiter of the Event will be IA Kimera Innocent. - APPEALS
A. Any protest regarding a decision taken by the Chief Arbiter or any of his assistants must be submitted in written form to the Chairman of the Appeals Committee within 30 minutes after the completion of the respective game.
B. A written protest must be accompanied with the sum of UGX 30,000 as a deposit from the signatory. The deposit must be handed to the Chairman of the Appeals Committee. If the appeal is granted, the sum shall be returned immediately. If the appeal is found to be baseless by the Appeals Committee, the deposit will be forfeited to the Event Organizers.
C. The members of the Appeals Committee will be announced before the start of the first round. - ORGANISING COMMITTEE
- Luganda Ronald — Captain, Makerere University Chess Society — 0771 275 298
- Alupo Mercy — Assistant Captain — 0763 743 097