Ofowino Toritsemuwa

In preparation for the largest tournament in Chess History which is synonymous to Olympics, every country, looks forward to sending their best players to represent them in the Olympics made for chess called Olympiad. This is an opportunity to play against the best of the best and to recognize new talents not to mention scoring of norms (Grandmaster Norm, International Master Norm, FIDE Master Norm and Candidate Master norms) and outright title for most that have the rating criteria.

Chess Olympiad Batumi Official logo | Image cred https://batumi2018.fide.com

The Chess Olympiad is one of the major events in the world of sports, attracting more than 150 countries and around 3000 athletes and officials. The first two Olympiads were organized unofficially in 1924 and 1925. It was in 1924 when the first attempt to include chess in the Olympic Games was made. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful because of the troubles in distinguishing amateurs from professional chess players. The ending of the first unofficial Chess Olympiad became a milestone in chess history as the World Chess Federation (FIDE-Federation Internationale des Eches) was created during its closing day –July 20^th, 1924 in Paris. This historical day became not only a birthday of Fide but also the International chess day. More of the history of Olympiad can be found here

Though Russia is the power house of chess and Ranked 1st it can be likened to be the Brazil in Football, coming second is China while United States of America sits at 3rd position. United States of America are the defending champions with the likes of super GM Hikaru Nakamura, super GM Wesley So who are amongst the top 10 in the world and the new Captain America GM Sam Shankland.

The power house of African chess is Egypt who is first in Africa but 46th in the World. Next in line is Morocco who is 2nd in Africa overtaking ranked 69th in the world after overtaking Algeria who is now 3rd in Africa and 70th in the World. Nigerian is ranked 7th in Africa and 87th in the world. Source: ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml

All countries use different criteria in choosing the best to represent their respective countries. In countries where there are fewer grandmasters, all grandmasters are selected to represent the country which is more or less an automatic slot. In countries where there are no grandmasters, trial tournaments were held. Some had rated trials organized for their players hence bringing out the best players for selection based on performances during the trials. Some had two (2) trial formats. The first encompass players who feel they have what it takes to play where the Top 10 where selected for the second phase and the last top 5 players were emerge as the country’s representatives.

FM Anwuli Daniel | Image cred Twitter

Earlier this year, the Nigerian Chess Federation announced the criteria of selection for the Batumi Chess Olympiad team for Nigeria which was specifically the top 5 (five) highest rated player on July 1st 2018 according to FIDE ratings.

FM Kigigha Bomo | Image cred http://ruchess.ru

It’s interesting to note that there were only 2 rated classical tournaments between January 1st 2018 to July 1st 2018 within the country and none was organized by Nigerian Chess Federation body itself. The tournaments of note were Magnus Otuedon International Chess Tournament in Benin as at April 2018, won by CM Shorungbe Ademola hence his rise to number 6 in the National Ranking. Worthy of note is that this tournament was submitted for rating two months after the tournament ended which definitely have effects on player’s rating which is analyzed below:

Unrated player A plays in Otuedon tournament meets three rated players and scores 1.5/3. This means player A needs just two (2) rated games to for initial rating to be calculated. Player A goes ahead to play C4 tournament, played four (4) players and lost all. Mind you Otudeon tournament is not yet rated, what it means is, Player A scored 0/4 at the rated C4 tournament which was rated first. By the time Otuedon rating list comes out, player A won’t have any rating yet but 1.5/3 would be recorded in FIDE’s database. Player A will now hope to play another rated tournament and meet two rated players in order to get initial rating.(Sad).

IM Olape Olubmni | Image cred http://www.nigerianchess.com

P.S. For every chess tournament, organizers should inform their Federation one month before the tournament date. The federation in turn sends to FIDE in order to be placed on FIDE’s calendar. This protocol enables effective rating of tournament.

The second was the Chevron CPAN Chess Challenge (C4) organized by Chess Players’ Association of Nigeria (CPAN) which was held in May, 2018. Abdulrahman Abdulraheem won outstandingly with three (3) International Masters present, which shot him to No. 11 in the country’s ranking.

Top 5 male team are which includes three International Masters are:

FM Kigigha Bomo (2317)
IM Adu Oladapo (2299)
IM Balogun Oluwafemi (2275)
FM Anwuli Daniel (2267)
IM Olape Olubunmi (2252)

CM Shorungbe Ademola’s tournament win at Benin pushed him to the 6th position ahead of IM Odion Aikhoje. FM Abimbola Osunfuyi is on 8th position while Ajibola Olanrewaju aka Papa sits on 9th and CM Chikwere Onyekwere is on 10th.

IM Adu Odalapo | Image cred Luciana Mendoza

Amongst the men above, only FM Anwuli Daniel has not featured in any tournament this year.

The effect of the tournament in Benin made an affected player to send a message to Mr. Ayotuase (a reputable chess organizer, enthusiast and believe to have strong ties with the Nigerian Chess Federation) read thus:

Assa Oluwaseun

“Greetings Sir Ayo, please I will like to draw your attention to a ticking time bomb involving ladies chess in Nigeria. By now we all know that the selection criteria for the Olympiad is the rating list of July 1^st. If you see the top five names, you will notice the absence of strong female players whose ratings are quite far but, demonstrate more strength over the board than the names you will see. Some of the higher rated players got their ratings and seemingly went into hiding and are just becoming active because of the Olympiad list. This is worrisome because we would be deprived our best hands in Georgia. Furthermore, Toritsemuwa Ofowino who is 4th on the list may drop to 6th or 7th when the Benin tournament gets rated. Assa Oluwaseun will become active along with two new players whose initial ratings will surpass hers. So will our strongest players not go to the Olympiad because of some rating rule?

Agbazue Precious

In addition, due to the late rating of the Benin event, Suleiman Ayisha Azumi whose initial rating would have been 1900+, is now rated 1700+ because Benin tournament hasn’t been rated. To make matters worse, when the Benin tournament gets rated, her rating will reduce because the games she lost as an unrated player will now be taken to be rated, whereas if Benin were rated first, she will have a high initial rating; the issue is serious and her coach isn’t taking the matter lightly at all.”

Akintoye Deborah

As predicted by the young man, here is the list of the top 5 female rated players

Agbazue Precious
Assa Oluwaseun
Chukwuemeka-Ehirim, Chinyere
Akintoye Deborah
Ogbiyoyo Perpetual Eloho

Ehirim Chinyere

Unfortunately, Ofowino Toritsemuwa came 6th, Amadasun Rosemary on 7th and Azumi on 8^th.

Ogbyoyo Perpetual

Rules are rules! It would be so unfair to change the rules at this moment. Batumi is just one month away. We hope our representatives have intense training and we believe they would do wonders in this Olympiad. Finally, we believe Nigerian Chess Federation would learn from this decision and make sure trials are held for the next Olympiad tournament. The preparation should start immediately this team comes back from Georgia.

C4 TOURNAMENT CHESS REPORT

The 6th edition of the CPAN Chevron Chess Challenge started on Thursday the 17th of May, 2018, and ended on Sunday the 20th of May, 2018. It was a seven (7) round classical tournament, which many Nigerian chess players who have been suffering from tournament famine within the country and needed to gather loads of rating points in order to qualify for the upcoming Olympiads selection of the top five (5), who would represent Nigeria in Batumi, later this year, had to participate in this all important rated event. The deadline to pick the top five (5) players, using the World Chess governing body (FIDE) rating criteria, would be published on July 1st, 2018. Only the active top five (5) players would be selected to represent the country. This criteria of selection has been debated in time past, which as it is, would be an article for another time, but for now, let’s savor the delicacies the C4 Tournament had to offer.

About a hundred (100) players registered for this tournament. And it was very interesting to see the top rated players in the country not backing down from this challenge, despite the fact that it could reduce their chances of making the Olympiad team if they lose to lower rated players. They had to prove they are still in shape or probably came to test some of their opening repertoires at the tournament. Whichever the case might be, it was uplifting to see most of them competing in the tournament.

Abdulrahman Abdulraheem was superbly exceptional at this tournament, defeating two International Masters, one Fide Master, enroute to finishing clear first with a rating performance of 2940. According to him, he said “I felt good about the tournament”, of course, since he won it. His best game of the tournament was against IM Olape Olubunmi, who was also his toughest opposition and in his words “a great tactician”.

Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

CPAN CHEVRON CHESS CHALLENGE C4

Rounds: 7 Rounds Swiss

Time Control: 90mins + 30secs added from move 1

Venue: Chevron Recreational Center, Gbagada, Lagos.

Chief Arbiter: FA Boyo Paul Kehinde

Date: 17th – 20th May, 2018

ROUND 1

It was a walk in the park for virtually all the higher rated players, against their lower rated opponent. It was on board 30, where under 16 and unrated Okemakinde Toluwanimi held Izokwu Sylvester rated 1963 to a draw with the black pieces, while the greatest shocker was Udeme Edet (2125) losing to unrated Akande Temitope, who also has defeated IM Balogun Oluwafemi in time past. View the games here

Akande Temitope

Ifeoluwa Monja missed a tactical blow against Veteran Dasaolu Rotimi, with the former eventually losing the game.

Best Under 20 female player, Enomah Emmanuella Trust had a lovely game against Onokpite Kennedy, but experience reared its head and she lost to it at the later end of the game.

Emmanuella Trust

ROUND 2

There were some major upsets in the second round of this tournament, as Apemiye Austin held IM Adu Oladapo to a draw. Apemiye mentioned that “every time I had a slight advantage against the IM and try to force to win, I end up losing”. This time he chose to settle for a draw, while others felt he could push for a win in the position.

FM Osunfuyi Abimbola (2212) had a bad position against veteran master player Dasaolu Rotimi (2032). The latter was unable to convert the position and went on to lose the game. View the games here

FM Osunfuyi Abimbola

Nwala Emmanuel aka Manny

Nwala Emmanuel (1975) also known as “Manny”, “Poseout” or “Man from Spain” on the Africa Lichess Online world, had an overwhelming advantage against former National Champion Fawole John Oyeyemi (2211) but just could not convert to take the point, and he ended up losing a game that would have been one of the biggest upset of the round. Some said his Lichess speed skills does not work on the board.

Bartholomew Okhipo (2049) lost his game to FM Kigigha Bomo (2323), after failing to complete his recording. FM Kigigha seeing his opponent had one (1) minute remaining on the clock, and incomplete record of moves on the recording sheet, summoned the Arbiter. The Chief Arbiter, FA Boyo Paul, upheld the rule that says Bartholomew must complete his recording, while his time continued counting down. He simply resigned, as he could not make the time to complete about ten (10) moves of his recording and think of the next best move against his opponent under sixty (60) seconds.

Ofowino Toritsemuwa (1794) held FM Ajibowo Olamide (2107) to a draw. After the game, the latter said “this young lady is so strong, and I was hanging on each move”. A little slip by her was all he needed, and his position was salvaged from total loss, which helped him to happily settle for a draw.

FM Ajibowo Olamide

Ofowino Toritsemuwa

Akande Temitope was not underrated by Edunwale Hakeem, after the news of his win against Udeme Edet in the first round. Edunwale Hakeem won without much complications.

Oyelabi Jonathan fought till the last minute against IM Balogun Oluwafemi, only to lose in the endgame, in the fashion of what Magnus Carlsen did to the IM at the World Cup.

Bakare Toyosi

ROUND 3

In this round, CM Akinseye Abiola (2123) held the highest rated player in the country, FM Kigigha Bomo (2323), to a draw. He could have pushed for a win but was low on time along with his opponent. Both of them were threading on thin ice with thirty (30) seconds left on their clock and a dicey position on their board. The draw came about when FM Kigigha Bomo called to make a claim of three (3) fold repetition of the position. The Arbiter when trying to set up a board to affirm this claim, Akinseye Abiola accepted the draw. Games replay here

Ogbogho Dennis

Toritsemuwa Ofowino (1794) held Izokwu Sylvester (1963) to a draw in this round with the black pieces, while the underage players dominated in this round. Under 20 top player, Oyakhlome David, who is also unrated, defeated Agusto Olaonipekun with the white pieces. Under 20 player, Okeke Isaac (1650), held Oluwalasinu Lanre Seye (2084) to a draw, while Under 20 player Oyakhilome Daniel also unrated defeated Dooterna Shaapera (1956) with the white pieces, to round off an impressive round for the under 20s.

Okeke Isaac

ROUND 4

Board one had FM Onovughe Ochuko (2210) losing to IM Olape Bunmi (2244), while FM Osunfuyi Abimbola (2212) after declining a draw offer from his opponent Ogbogho Dennis (2188), defeated him in style on board two.

IM Olape Olubunmi vs FM Abimbola Osunfuyi

On board three, Onokpite Kennedy (2080) and FM Fawole John Oyeyemi (2211) had to settle for the draw.

Onokpite Kennedy

The biggest upset was Abdulrahman Abdulraheem (2153) also known as Dbestsmiles on African Lichess world, defeating IM Adu Oladapo (2304) with the white pieces, and Edunwale Hakeem (2103) losing to CM Job Atabor (1887).

CM Job Atabor

Toritsemuwa Ofowino has been in an Anish Giri mode (draw) for the past 2 rounds against highly rated players and also pulled another Giri (draw) on Okhipo Bartholomew (2049) with the white pieces, while unrated Ajumobi Samuel defeated FM Dave Erhabor with the black pieces.

Fifteen (15) year old Okemakinde Toluwanmi defeated Fabeyo Frederick (1944) in an impeccable game, quoting Mr. Babatunde Ogunsiku of Africachessmedia.com. Okemakinde is one of the Nigerian chess prodigies.

Okemakinde Toluwanimi

Chukwuma Chisom was elated, and could not believe his eyes, after defeating Veteran master Oyeneyin Tajudeen (2040).

Female Unrated Aisha Jimoh also defeated Stephen Koya (1772) in this round.

ROUND 5

The two leaders both on perfect four (4) points in the tournament met on the top board in this round. IM Olape Bunmi (2244) could not find a way to crash into FM Osunfuyi Abimbola’s (2212) position, hence his decision to accept a draw when the latter offered.

On board two, Onokpite Kennedy (2080) defeated FM Kigigha Bomo (2323), after the latter sacrificed his Queen in the game and waltzed into a mating net.

Fawole John Oyeyemi (2211) lost to the blazing Abdulrahman Abdulraheem (2153). While another shocker was CM Akinseye Abiola (2123) defeating IM Balogun Oluwafemi (2278) in a drawn position. The latter could have settled for a draw, but thought he could get a win in the position, only for things to go south and he lost.

CM Akinseye Abiola vs IM Balogun Oluwafemi

Lolomari George (1997) defeated Odum Martin (2178), while Akinwamide Oluwadamilare (2150) defeated Ewi Yemi (2080), who has always been a tough nut to crack, with the black pieces, while unrated Akande Temitope held FM Dave Erhabor (2030) to a draw.

Lolomari George

ROUND 6

With four (4) players atop the tournament with four and a half (4.5) points out of a possible five (5). Abdulrahman Abdulraheem (2153) proved that his first win against IM Oladapo Adu (2304) was no fluke, as he went on to defeat IM Olape Olubunmi (2244) with the white pieces.

IM Adu Oladapo

FM Osunfuyi Abimbola (2212) and CM Akinseye Abiola (2123) ended in a gridlock. Both players had lots of pieces and pawns on board but no way whatsoever for any invasion from them hence a draw was agreed.

IM Balogun Oluwafemi (2278) played a brilliant game against FM Ajibowo Olamide (2107) in his quest to catching up with the others, and sacrificed his queen, with a devastating attack on his opponent after he captured.

Onovughe Ochuko (2210) blundered a Knight in a winning position against Onokpite Kennedy (2080) and lost, while unrated Bakare Toyosi calmly defeated Izokwu Sylvester (1963). CM Atabor Job (1887) escaped a totally lost position against Yemi Ewi (2080, and secured an all important draw.

Akande Temitope defeated Adewale Adelakun (2078). A wonderful performance by the young lad, and fifteen (15) year old Azumi Ayisha Suleiman held Fabeyo Fredrick (1944) to a draw in this round.

Adewale Adelakun

Suleiman Azumi Ayisha

ROUND 7

The final round had the two players with five and a half (5.5) points, Onokpite Kennedy and Abdulrahman Akintoye fight for who becomes the champion of the tournament. Abdulrahman outclassed Kennedy in this round to come out the clear winner and champion of the tournament.

Edet Udeme could not find a win against FM Abimbola Osunfuyi as the game ended in a draw. Hence they tied for 3rd place.

IM Olape Olubunmi won his game by a walkover against FM Kigigha Bomo who did not show up to play his game though came to the tournament playing hall during the round and later left but still was in the tournament premise. There was an argument that his game would not be recorded as a walkover. FM Kigigha Bomo is very lucky herein because, according to the FIDE rules, a game will be rated if both players have made their first move unlike in this scenario where they didn’t. However, the organizers can stipulate a tournament rule that disallows this kind of scenario in the nearest future. A player who wishes not to continue a tournament should write the Chief Arbiter about a withdrawal from the tournament else the penalty won’t be a simple walkover but an outright loss.

Okemakinde Toluwanimi, the young under 16 prodigy, held veteran master Dasaolu Rotimi to a draw to finish with four and a half (4.5) points and qualify for the top prizes in the U1800 rating band section.

Okemakinde Toluwanimi

Toritsemuwa Ofowino held Akinwamide to a draw and tied for the first prize in the 1800 and below category, which had a higher prize compared to the best female prize.

Its also worthy of note that Abdulrahman Akintoye, Akinseye Abiola, IM Balogun Oluwafemi and Okemakinde Toluwanimi are all players for Facility Control Team playing the CPAN Chess League. This is a wonderful feat and they are really looking forward to win the league again.

Rating 2001 and above

1st Abdulraman Abdulraheem Akintoye (6.5points)

2nd Akinseye Abiola (6points)

3rd – 5th Osunfuyi Abimbola, IM Olape Olubunmi, Onokpite Kennedy, IM Adu Oladapo, IM Balogun Oluwafemi, Edet Udeme (5.5points)

Rating 1801 – 2000

1st-4th George Lolomari, Nwala Emmanuel, Atabor Job, Agusto Olaonipekun (5 points)

5th Oyama Ekok (4.5points)

Ratings 1800 and below

1st to 3rd Akande Temitope, Ofowino Toritsemuwa, Okemakinde Toluwanimi (4.5 points)

4th – 5^th Otaru Benjamin, Oyelabi Jonathan, Monja Ifeoluwa, Onyema Ugochukwu, Tobun Olajide, Enenebeaku Francis, Bakare Toyosi (4points)

Female

1st to 3rd Sadiku Omolola, Chukwuemeka-Ehirim Chinyere, Adebayo Doris (4 points)