[Event "Western Region Chess Championship 2026"] [White "Ahumuza,Apollo"] [Black "Balewa,Jimmy Carlos"] [Site "Mbarara"] [Round "8"] [Annotator "Balewa Jimmy Carlos"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2026.10.11"] [WhiteElo "1881"] [BlackElo "1909"] [PlyCount "58"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 { Very annoying to face the Colle system. White doesn't commit to much without necessarily detoriating the position. It was the second time facing it in the same event and I had made my corrections } g6 3. Bd3 Bg7 4. Nf3 c5 5. b3 Nc6 { I tried to mix up my opponent since I knew they love very thematic setups } 6. Bb2 Nb4 7. Be2 cxd4 8. exd4 O-O 9. c4 d5 10. a3 Nc6 11. O-O Bf5 { The position is calm and equal. Not much has happened except disorganising the opponent a bit. Now is the time to play chess } 12. Nc3 Rc8 13. Re1 Bg4 $5 { Hard to explain what I was thinking, but it resonates with the d4 square } 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5 16. h3 Bf5 { In my heart of hearts, I feel black is slightly better, coz white has some pieces tied down } 17. Bc4 Qd6 18. Qe2 { Very logical. I cannot blame them for the surprise that got uncorked } Na5 $1 19. Ne5 $4 { Natural, yet self destructive } b5 $3 20. Nxf7 $4 { A desparate king hunt. Counting the losses and going for the passive but miserable Bd3 was better } (20. Bd3 Bxe5 21. Bxf5 Bh2+ 22. Kh1 gxf5 23. Qxb5 Rc2 $1 { Works twice } )(20. Bc3 bxc4 21. Bxa5 cxb3 { And the rook still invades the position } 22. Qb2 Qd5 23. Bc3 e6 )(20. Bxb5 { clearly loses to the rook invasion } Rc2 )Rxf7 21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Qxb5 Rc2 { A timely counterattack. It announces the king hunting season } 23. Qxa5 (23. Bc1 Nc6 24. Be3 Nxd4 25. Bxd4 Bxd4 )Rxb2 24. Qc3 Qxd4 $6 { Slightly inaccurate. } (24... Bxd4 { I hadn't deeply thought it through, probably because I had settled for a technical win } 25. Qc4+ Be6 26. Rxe6 Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Qxe6 { Black emerges a piece up } )25. Qf3 Bf6 26. g4 { Desperate times, desperate measures } (26. Rad1 Qb6 27. b4 Bc8 )Bc2 27. g5 $4 { A final verdict is served } Rxb3 28. Qe2 Rg3+ 29. Kh2 (29. Kf1 Bd3 30. fxg3 Bxe2+ )(29. Kh1 Qd5+ 30. f3 Rxf3 31. Kh2 Qd6+ 32. Kg2 Rg3+ 33. Kf2 Qf4+ )Rxg5 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1