December 16, 2025 – Where defending champions reminded everyone who’s boss, London Systems delivered trademark boredom, and one FM announced that madness had truly arrived.
Ladies and gentlemen, grab your popcorn because Round 1 of the NCC Invitationals just delivered a five-star performance! Six games, four decisive results, two draws (including one where both players clearly had somewhere better to be), and enough drama to rival the final episode of your favorite series (For my ITE fam, at the minute, we are enjoying some good craic off ” Sean Combs – The Reckoning”, Go watch it if you haven’t yet!). For now, let’s dive into the chess carnage!
Board 1: FM Bomo vs Morpheus – The Dutch Rebellion Gets Crushed
Result: 1-0 | FM Kigigha (White) defeats FM Akinseye (Black)
Opening: Dutch Defense: “I’m Feeling Dangerous Today” Variation
FM Bomo — multi-Nigerian Champion, 2017 West African Chess Championship runner-up, and six-time Chess Olympian, faced FM Abiola “Morpheus” Akinseye in what can only be described as a masterclass in patient, strategic demolition.
Fun Fact: FM Bomo is known for his devastating play with the English Opening as White. He favors the solid, strategic approach, slowly squeezing opponents like a boa constrictor in business casual attire. But today? He didn’t need his favorite weapon because Black walked into a Dutch Defense and… well, let’s just say it wasn’t Amsterdam, it was more like the Alamo.
Black’s 3…f5 signaled aggressive intentions, the chess equivalent of showing up to a chess tournament in a leather jacket and sunglasses. “Yeah, I’m attacking your king, what are you gonna do about it?” But FM Bomo, with the patience of a saint and the calculation of a supercomputer, simply replied: “I’m going to slowly dismantle your position while sipping my tea, thank you very much.”
The critical moment came on move 12 when White’s knight landed on e5 like a landlord claiming rent. From there, it was systematic pressure. The bishop on d6 (move 29) became an absolute monster—controlling key squares and supporting White’s expansion. When Black desperately threw his knight at White’s position with 35…Nxf4, it was far too late. The position was already past saving.
The Knockout: Move 57. e7+ – The pawn promoted with the force of a thousand suns, and Black resigned faster than you can say “I should’ve played the Slav.”
Post-Game Stats: FM Bomo improves his lifetime domination record to “Yes.” Meanwhile, Morpheus is presumably rethinking his Dutch Defense repertoire.
Board 2: The Great Warrior vs Master Muzan – A Marathon For The Ages
Result: ½-½ | IM Balogun (2194) holds Okhipo (2216) to a draw
Opening: Caro-Kann Advance: “We’ll Be Here A While” Variation
The Great Warrior faced The King in the North in an endgame marathon that lasted 57 moves and tested both players’ stamina, technique, and experience.
The Caro-Kann Advance led to the kind of position that makes spectators check their watches and wonder if they have time to grab dinner before anything interesting happens. Spoiler alert: they did.
But then—THEN!—the endgame happened. Queens came off on move 26, and what followed was a masterclass in king activity. The Great Warrior’s king marched all the way to b7 like it was on a mission from God. Meanwhile, Master Muzan’s king infiltrated White’s kingside like a ninja at a birthday party.
The critical race occurred between moves 41-52. White grabbed the d5 pawn, Black’s king gobbled pawns on the kingside, and both players probably burned about 2000 calories just calculating variations. When the dust settled after 57 moves, both players looked at the position, looked at each other, and simultaneously thought: “Yeah, this is going nowhere.”
Final Verdict: A hard-fought draw between two warriors who earned every half-point. Respect🤛🏿
Board 3: Odirov vs Boss Baby – The London System Delivers As Advertised 😴
Result: ½-½ | IM Aikhoje and Ekunke (2195) split the point
Opening: The London System – “Magnus Plays It, So Can I” Edition
Ah, the London System. As GM Cyrus Lakdawala famously wrote: “The London System produces a limited emotional range between mild boredom and outright depression!” And yet, when Magnus Carlsen popularized it, suddenly everyone and their grandmother wanted to give it a try. Even Magnus has admitted: “Even in the London System, you need a lot of preparation to play now. It used to be a line I played in classical if I didn’t want to prepare…you can’t do that anymore.”
Enter Odirov, who deployed the London with the confidence of someone who’s used this system countless times.
Odirov’s System: Based on his repertoire, Odirov is well-versed in quiet d4 systems including the London and Torre Attack. The man knows his way around a solid position like a seasoned Lagos driver knows alternative routes during traffic. Here’s one for fellow geeks…The man knows his way around a quiet position like a librarian knows the Dewey Decimal System🤓
The game unfolded exactly as London System critics would predict: d4, Bf4, e3, Nbd2, c3… it’s like watching someone follow a recipe. No surprises. No fireworks. Just solid, methodical chess.
Black’s …c4 on move 9 tried to create some imbalance, but after White’s b3 and subsequent simplifications, we arrived at a position so balanced that even a supercomputer would suggest a handshake.
The game ended on move 31 with a threefold repetition: Nb5-c7-Nb5-c7-Nb5. The knight went back and forth like someone checking both sides before crossing a busy road. Draw agreed, and both players moved on with their lives.
The Verdict: The London System strikes again. It won’t win you style points or exciting games, but it delivers solid results. As one chess wag put it: “The London is like going to a party and spending the whole time in the kitchen—safe, but you’re not making memories.”
Famous London Players: Magnus Carlsen, Gata Kamsky, Vladimir Kramnik, Levon Aronian, and half the players on chess.com (approx. 47 million players) who discovere it in Youtube😜
Board 4: Boy Tenny vs Triple A – When Madness Arrives! Run for Cover!🚨
Result: 0-1 | FM Abdulraheem (Black) demolishes Olisa (2279)
Opening: English Opening: “Everything Was Fine Until It Wasn’t” Defense
Triple A walked into this tournament as one of the favorites, and after this game, everyone knows why. The West African Champion showed Boy Tenny exactly what happens when you give a titled player even the slightest opening.
Player Profile : Triple A (born 1993) has been terrorizing the Nigerian chess scene for years. With a 62.5% win rate in major events and recent dominance at Chess Heights Lagos (where he went unbeaten), this man is on a mission. His opening repertoire features solid 1.e4 responses like the Ruy Lopez and Queen’s Gambit Declined as Black, but he’s also comfortable in offbeat lines when needed.
The English Opening (1.c4) led to a reversed Sicilian structure, and Black’s decision to trade his bishop with 5…Bxc3 proved to be excellent judgment. Those doubled c-pawns became a permanent liability for White, like buying a house with foundation problems.
The game’s turning point came on moves 17-21 when Black’s rook infiltrated via …Ra5!, putting immediate pressure on White’s loose structure. When White tried to generate kingside counterplay with f4-f5 and g4-g5, it was too slow. Triple A’s pieces coordinated like a well-oiled machine.
The Killing Blow: Move 41…Nd3! The knight jumped to d3, centralizing with threats that would make Tal proud. After 43…Nf4!, White’s position collapsed faster than a house of cards in a wind tunnel. The queen smack on move 45 (Qxc4!) forced decisive material gain, and White resigned shortly after.
Post-Game : Triple A proves why he’s called “Madness Has Arrived.” When this man sits across from you, bring your A-game or prepare to be dismantled.
Head-to-Head Drama: These two met at the recent Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship, where Triple A won convincingly. So when they faced off again here, you could sense Boy Tenny wanted revenge. Instead, he got another lesson in high level chess.
Board 5: King Kali vs Lucky – Fortune Favors The Bold (And The Higher-Rated)
Result: 1-0 | FM Eyetonghan (2273) defeats Keyi (2082)
Opening: Queen’s Pawn Game: “Technique Over Tactics” System
King Kali faced Lucky in a game that showcased the difference between FM-level technique and spirited but ultimately insufficient resistance.
The Numbers: 191 rating points separated these players—in chess terms, that’s a significant gap. While upsets happen, the favorite usually delivers, and King Kali did exactly that.
King Kali’s Profile: This Bayelsa-born FM is known for his solid positional understanding and excellent endgame technique. Give this man a passed pawn and watch him convert it with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine.
The game followed a clear script: trade pieces, create a passed pawn, push it toward promotion, collect the point. No drama, no complications—just pure chess technique.
The Breakthrough: Move 22. bxc6! created the c-pawn that would later become unstoppable. By moves 29-30, the d-pawn joined the party with d6-d7, and suddenly Lucky realized his position was critical.
The Final Act: Move 31. Qxc7! sealed the deal. When your opponent has a pawn on d7 supported by a queen on c7, there’s no defense.
The Verdict : King Kali shows why experience and rating points matter. Lucky fought bravely, but class told in the end.
Board 6: Papa vs The Teacher – The Defending Champion Shows Class! 👑
Result: 0-1 | Tersee “The Teacher” Nyuima defeats Olanrewaju “Papa” Ajibola
Opening: Torre Attack: “I Had A Plan Until Black Moved” System
Now THIS was the headline game of the round! “Papa” (2179) walked into this game probably thinking it would be a competitive fight. Instead, he received a proper chess education from the defending champion.
Context Check: Tersee Ferdinand Nyuima isn’t just any 17-year-old. This SS3 student from Platform Schools, Ipaja, is the reigning 2024 Nigerian National Champion—the YOUNGEST player to ever win the title! Hailing from Kubwa, Abuja, and coached by Chuks Eluekezi aka Phoenix (who famously banned him from playing blitz chess to focus on classical games), Tersee beat titled masters including FM Abdulraheem in a playoff to claim the crown. When this guy sits down at the board, he’s not here for vibes—he’s here for scalps.
The game opened with the Torre Attack, and for the first 11 moves, things looked relatively normal. But then Black unleashed 10…e5!, and suddenly Papa realized this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park—more like a walk through Third Mainland Bridge during rush hour.
The Critical Sequence: Moves 14-17 proved disastrous for White. After taking the rook on b1 (14. Bxb1), Papa probably thought he was winning material. But after queens came off on move 17, Black’s superior pawn structure and piece activity became overwhelming. Those doubled f-pawns? They weren’t weaknesses—they were battering rams.
By move 24, when Black’s rook landed on f6, the writing was on the wall. The Teacher wasn’t rushing; he was methodically demonstrating why he holds the national title. Black’s pieces coordinated with the precision of a well-rehearsed dance routine.
The Final Lesson: Moves 32-37 was pure domination. Black’s rooks doubled on the second rank (34…Rgg2!), and Papa’s position collapsed faster than a politician’s promise after elections. White resigned on move 37 when he saw there was no defense left.
The Verdict: The defending champion announced his arrival in style. If you want that crown, you’ll need to bring more than good preparation—you’ll need to bring your absolute best game. As we say: “The champion no come here to play.”
Round 1 Final Standings – The Scoreboard Don’t Lie!
Winners (1.0/1) – Perfect Start:
- ✅ FM Bomo – Statement victory from the multi champion
- ✅ The Teacher – The defending champion announces his presence! 👑
- ✅ Triple A – Most impressive win of the round
- ✅ King Kali – Smooth, professional conversion
Draws (0.5/1) – Solid Results:
- 🤝 Master Muzan – Solid result against The Great Warrior
- 🤝 Odirov – London System delivered its trademark result
- 🤝 Boss Baby – Half point in the bag
Learning Experiences (0.0/1):
- ❌ Papa – The Teacher gave him a lesson to remember
- ❌ Morpheus – The Dutch Defense needs a firmware update
- ❌ Boy Tenny – Triple A showed him the ropes
- ❌ Lucky – Not lucky enough today Storylines Heading Into Round 2! 🔥
1. The Teacher Is Teaching!
Tersee’s demolition of Papa wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. At 17 years old, the defending champion showed exactly why he holds the title. His technique, patience, and killer instinct are championship-caliber. Anyone who wants that crown will need to bring their absolute A-game plus some divine intervention.
2. Triple A’s Championship Form
FM Abdulraheem’s destruction of Boy Tenny was the most impressive performance of the round. The West African Champion is in form, and that should terrify everyone else in the field. His combination of tactical sharpness and strategic understanding makes him a serious threat to reclaim the national title.
3. FM Bomo’s Experience Shining Through
The multi-champion reminded everyone why he’s won the Nigerian Championship multiple times. That demolition of Morpheus was clinical, controlled, and completely dominant. The veterans in this field are showing they’re far from finished.
4. The London System Debate Continues: Odirov’s draw proves what we all know: the London System might not win you fans, but it’ll get you half points when you need them. As one chess.com forum user eloquently put it: “Do London players understand that they are playing boring chess? ” Answer: Yes, and they don’t care because it WORKS.
5. The Great Warrior’s Endgame Mastery*
IM Balogun’s endgame technique was sublime. That king march to b7 and the subsequent holding operation was textbook-worthy.
Final Thoughts
Round 1 of the NCC Invitationals delivered exactly what we wanted: solid chess from titled players, a few surprises, one London System draw (as is tradition), and one absolutely brilliant demolition job from Triple A that reminded everyone why he’s considered one of Nigeria’s most dangerous players.
As we head into Round 2, one thing is clear: this tournament is wide open. FM Bomo is defending his crown, Triple A is hungry for glory, The Great Warrior is calculating endgames in his sleep, and somewhere, Odirov is preparing his London System for another outing.
Most Importantly: If you’re playing against FM Abdulraheem in Round 2, maybe pack a lunch. You’re going to need the energy.
Stay tuned for Round 2, where things are about to get REALLY interesting!
Special shoutout to the London System: Boring chess fans worldwide since 1882, and still going strong in 2025.
Yours truly,
NathanFlow
The Storyteller
