Four (4) years on, the Orchid-Lekki Chess Club continues to break boundaries to bring to life, this major event that determines the National Open and Women’s Chess Champions for Nigeria.
Grandmaster – GM International Master – IM Fide Master – FM Candidate Master – CM National Master – NM
Woman Grandmaster – WGM Woman International Master – WIM Woman Fide Master – WFM Woman Candidate Master – WCM
In the year 2021, at the very first of the championships, the duo of IM Balogun Oluwafemi and WFM Ogbiyoyo Perpetual stood atop the standings, as they claimed the Open and Women’s championship crowns brilliantly. Meanwhile, FM Osunfuyi Abimbola and FM Akintoye Abdulrahman Abdulraheem settled for 2nd and 3rd place in the Open section, as Ofowino Toritsemuwa and Enomah Emmanuella Trust, settled for 2nd and 3rd in the Women’s section of the event.
2022 saw the first and only back to back champion, as WFM Ogbiyoyo Perpetual secured her second championship title after claiming it via tiebreaks against her teammate, Suleiman Azumi Ayisha, while Enomah Emmanuella Trust finished in 3rd place. Whereas, in the Open section, IM Balogun Oluwafemi had to concede his title to the Beast, FM Adebayo Adegboyega, who showed extreme prowess to pick up the championship with a massive 8/9 points, two (2) points ahead of both IM Balogun Oluwafemi and FM Akintoye Abdulraheem Abdulrahman in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
Last year, both champions, FM Adegboyega Adebayo and WFM Ogbiyoyo Perpetual were unable to defend their titles due to personal reasons, and the titles for both the Open and Women were up for grabs. Who was going to claim them? Bayelsa State sponsored duo, 11 year old Quickpen Deborah and FM Kigigha Bomo stepped up and showed their readiness and prowess, as they claimed the Women’s and Open championship in the face of overwhelming obstacles. In the Open section of the championship, IM Balogun Oluwafemi and Olisa Tennyson ended in 2nd and 3rd place respectively, while in the Women’s section, Suleiman Azumi Ayisha and Ofowino Toritsemuwa ended in 2nd and 3rd place.
Here comes the 2024 Nigeria National Chess Championships, December 6th to 13th, which is the 4th edition of the championship. The championship does not only comprise of the main events that determine the champions; it also includes the Masters section, the General Open section, as well as the Junior section. The different sections show the different levels of chess proficiency that players participating, have. The Junior players get to have their championship, as well as the opportunity to play against the giants that did not get into the main event.
This edition of the championships has a special ring to it, as it heralds the birth of The Odega Blitz National Chess Championship, an event named after Engineer Jonathan Odega, who contributed a lot to the development of chess in Nigeria, by supporting various chess projects and activities. The Blitz event will determine the Nigeria National Blitz Chess Champion for 2024, and it will hold every year from this edition, to remember and keep in our hearts, the joy and smiles that the Chairman of Orchid-Lekki Chess Club, the Sponsors Representative of the current Nigeria Chess Federation Board, and a friend to various chess personalities, put on so many faces.
1.FM Kigigha Bomo – Defending National Chess Champion
2.IM Aikhoje Odion – Rating
3.FM Eyetonghan Callistus – Rating
4.FM Abdulraheem Abdulrahman Akintoye – Rating
5.IM Balogun Oluwafemi – Rating
6.FM Akinseye Abiola – Rating
7.Nyuima Ferdinand Tersee – Highest Rated Junior (U20)
8.Lapite Oluwadurotimi - Wildcard
9.Koko Obubele – Qualifier
10.Omorere Benjamin – Qualifier
11.Olanrewaju Ajibola – Qualifier
12.Okemakinde Toluwanimi – Qualifier
1.WCM Quickpen Deborah – Defending National Chess Champion
2.Ofowino Toritsemuwa – Rating
3.Suleiman Azumi Ayisha – Rating
4.Onoja Iyefu Joy – Rating
5.Michael Bridget – Rating
6.Samson Peace – Rating
7.Nwankwo Michelle Chiamaka – Highest Rated Junior (U20)
8.Ajanwachukwu Eunice – Wildcard
9.Nzeako Treasure – Qualifier
10.Erhabor Joy Felix – Qualifier
11.Ishaya Rejoice Kira – Qualifier
12.Osundinakin Yemi – Qualifier
Apart from the championships, which are invitational, registration for the various sections will begin by the 1st of November, 2024. This gives everyone ample time to register for the event and plan their participation to the letter.
The Orchid-Lekki Chess Club welcomes everyone to the 4th edition of the Nigeria National Chess Championship. An event that has been hosted on behalf of the Nigeria Chess Federation in the last three (3) years.