2016 is already setting up to be a big year for the  Sports Outreach Chess Program!

Disney released the first official photo for Queen of Katwe, follow the link to read the post on Entertainment Weekly.

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/05/lupita-nyongo-queen-of-katwe-first-look

The Queen of Katwe is being said by Vanity Fair to be one of the top 30 movies of 2016 and surely to be nominated for the 2017 Oscars! Check it out at the below link and scroll to #8!

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/2017-oscars-diversity

Olympiad Qualifiers Update from Robert Katende:

This weekend marked the start of the third and last phase of the Olympiad Qualifiers.  The tournament was held at the Pope Paul Memorial Hotel, which if you have ever been to Kampala with Sports Outreach, you probably stayed there!  The qualifier featured the top 12 competitors and then the top five men and women will be chosen to represent Uganda in the Olympiad.  From the SOM Chess Academy, Kato Richard is the only male representing the Super Twelve while five girls represented for SOM Chess; Mutesi Phiona, Babirye Stellah, Nansubuga Gloria, Nakimuli Joan and Nakayima Vanessa.

After the first half of the tournament, they walked away with Phiona in the lead for the women and Richard is still in the game as of now.

Phiona, Goria and Richard playing this past weekend.

Nairobi SOM Chess Academy Update from Githinji Hinga,  Regional Coordinator – East Africa for Gary Kasparov Chess Foundation Africa.

This past month, a group of Chess Kenya officials and friends made a second visit to Redroof Academy Chess Club on Saturday 30th January located at the heart of the Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums.
Redroof Academy was established mainly by a sponsor from the UK, and the children in the school attend free of charge. Teachers are paid by the sponsor and charitable associations. It has a population of 300 plus students. Redroof had a great performance in KCPE 2015 with 100% pass rate, unlike most schools in Mukuru Slums. It goes to show that indeed these children are capable of greatness and require access to attain their potential.