Team Nigeria Leaves for 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai

Chess. The checkered board sports have come to stay in Nigeria. Chess is unarguably the oldest, most popular board game turned sports. It is played by millions of people worldwide.

 

The 44th Chess Olympiad set to take place in Chennai, Tamil Nadu from July 28 to August 10, 2022, is upon us. I am happy to announce to you that Team Nigeria is very much represented.

Fédération Internationale Des Échecs (FIDE), also known as the International Chess Federation, organise the much loved sport and decides who holds the biennially. With the willingness conveyed by the All India Chess Federation Secretary, Bharat Singh Chauhan, to the FIDE President - Arkady Dvorkovich, India is the host for 2022 Chess Olympiad, which has been on for 95 years and counting. No other city is worthier than India’s chess capital, Chennai!

Already India is starting out on a strong note by decking Napier Bridge, Chennai's most well known landmark, as a checkered board. This has become the talk of the town and has been heralded with NAMASTE by chess lovers and others globally.

Though Chess is one of the least, if not the least, supported sports in Nigeria, Team Nigeria set out with optimism earlier today, 25 July 2022 from the Citi Heights Hotel Ikeja at 10AM for the MMIA. The team in their branded green and white sportswear, departed Nigeria for the first leg of their flight via Ethiopian Airlines flight ET900 at exactly 1.30PM. 

The team whose players are often separated by gender include:

Men

1. Adebayo Adegboyega

2. Kigigha Bomo

3. Oluwafemi Oluwafemi

4. Akinseye Abiola 

5. Isaac Okeke

Women

1.Toritsemuwa  Ofowino

2. Emmanuella Trust Enoma

3. Perpetual Ogbiyoyo 

4. Azumi Aisha Suleiman

5. Iyefu Joy Onoja 

Officials who left with the team are:

1.      Prince Adeyinka Adewole, Vice President, Nigeria Chess Federation and Leader of Delegation

2.      Dr. Durotoye Bode Alli, Techinal Director, Nigeria Chess Federation  

3.      Mr. Olalekan Adeyemi, International Chess Federation (FIDE) Vice President

4.      Mr. Ehidiamhen Eugene Akhiwu, Nigeria National Team Captain

5.      Mr. Ademola Oyebanji, FIDE Arbiter

 

Earlier today, Mrs. Tayo Amisu, an International Arbiter departed via Qatar Airways to join the contingent in Chennai.

The President, Nigeria Chess Federation who is Nigeria’s Delegate at the FIDE Congress, Mr. Sani Mohammed DIG rtd. mni and the Secretary General of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Mrs. Olabowale Doyin Adedayo-Adeosun will join the team in Chennai on July 27, 2022

For more on the 44^th Chess Olympiad, stay tuned to this page.

 

Omolola Omoteso

The Eagle Eye