Chess Olympiad Trials Starts Today

The much anticipated World Chess Olympiad trial organised by the Nigeria Chess Federation NCF commenced today at the National Stadium, Lagos as 118 invited players converged and fight for a place in the team.

For six days, all the prodigies led by Adebayo Adegboyega and Phybian Omongbale in the female section to determine 20 players that will qualify for the final phase of the trial next month.

In all 64 male and 54 female as approved by the board of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) will compete in the 9-round Swiss event tournament and 10 players will qualify in to the final round of round robin that will come up next month.

The invited players were drawn from the list of qualifiers from the state trials held recently while the rest are national players who are currently not attached to any state just as last trial event and the Nigeria Breweries National Chess event rating was also put into use by the technical committee.

Other invited players in the male category are; Tolu Ogunwobi, Fawole Oyeyemi John, Tunji Rojugbokan, Demola Shorungbe, Olanrewaju Ajibola, Benjamin Omorere, Kolade Onabogun, Toyin Jeje, Omapkeje Ochuko, Obubele Koko, Leonard Etuk Akpan, Anthony Job, Fola Akintola, Femi Fasheyitan, Allor Chuks, Rotimi Dashaolu, Bayo Babalola, Sunny Eyenge, Mutiu Salawu Douye Asingbi and Bimbo Ogunowo.

The rest are Olamide Ajibowo, Adegbayi Oluwadara, M. C Cole, Ekpoikong Enagwe, Ubong Arch bong, Austin Apemiye, Nosa Edogiawerie, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, Temma Ikorodudu Madu George, F. Lolomari, Chima Mgbemgna, Ahmed Abubarka.

Umar Abubakar, David Werr, Ezekiel Pam Anthony, Segun Tunde, Salisu Bashir, Sani Faralu, Mesha, Othman, Tunde Oladejo, Larebo Okubaubeu, Bomo Kigigha, Pam Abdul-Dio, Robert Magomaya, Ninyawu Sabiya and Inimo Kigigha, all in the male category.

In the female section, Rosemary Amadasun, Doris Omoragbon, Vivian Dzaayem, Ada George, Hafsat Bello-Osagie, Nneoma Aguta, Justina Aghara, Abiye Koko, Folashayo Togun, Monalisa Chikezie, Amara Nkwonta, Kenechukwu Nwafor, Nkem Omisogbon, Abiona Opeyemi, Mordiyha Usman, Rasheedat Alabi, Aminat Adio, Ruth Eli, Akala Tabitha, Noel Elizabeth, Frances Debole, Emoff Adoga and Chinyere Annabel.

Others are Chekwas Uwa-Obasi, Tolu Jeje, Phybian Omongbale, Doris Adebayo, Dupe Adesanya, Blessing Amadasun, Nike Ayanleye, Elizabeth Coker, Bimbo Edunwale, Rachael Dappa, Obi Jemide, Funmi Oyegunle, Lyan Ossai, Tega Enarevba and Debola Adeyemi among others.

The Chess Olympiad will come up in Khanty -Mansiysk, Russia from 19th September to 4th of October and the World Chess body, FIDE has communicated to all federation that preliminary registration must be forwarded by May 20th and final list of players must reach the secretariat on or before 15th of July.