World Chess Olympiad: Adesina Humiliates Grand Master

Nigerian Chess Olympiad debutant, Adeyinka Adesina, hugged global limelight in chess yesterday following his brilliant win against highly rated Grand Master Pontus Carlson of Sweden in the round eight male category of the 40th Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

Although Nigerian male team lost 1-3 to Sweden, Adesina was the star among hundreds of chess players on parade yesterday after the upset against a ore experience opponent and put him at pole post of getting a FIDE title at the end of the 11-round Swiss event competition.
Adesina, playing in the white side of Nimzo Indian Defense deviated from his opponent's prepared repertoire and forced him into finding solution to impending isolated pawn structure.

 The Grand Master ran into time trouble and thus paved way for Adesina to gain upper hand in the middle play and in the end game the Nigeria had a better pawn structure and an active Queen as against Carlson's Rook and a knight.
When Adesina acquired another Queen, just like the biblical story of David and Goliath, the respected Grand Master resigned to the admiration of chess pundits at the arena.
"This is a memorable day for me because chess pundits here (Olympiad) did not give us any chance at this event knowing fully well that Nigeria paraded unrated players, but we were able to overcome with our raw talents.
"I dedicate this win to thousands of chess players at home and knowing fully well that if the leadership of the game in the country can implement the 'chess in school' programme as promised, a lot of talents that will take Nigeria to greater height will be discovered," Adesina reacted after the game.
In spite of the loss, Nigeria Male team is still in contention for the category placement and the brilliant performances of Bomo Kigigha and Nonso Orawgu could give them high FIDE ratings and titles.
Earlier in the day, Dapo Adu had lost to GM Nils Grandelius (2562)just as Kigigha was no match for GM Han Tikkanen (2570) and Femi Balogun lost to GM Berg Emmanuel (2576).
In the female section, Nigeria secured her first match point with a 2.5-1.5 win against Zambia.
Rejuvenated Tobi Olatunji set the tone of bright afternoon with a comprehensive demolition of Woman Candidate Master Tempo Epah(1927) while Nsisong Asanga settled for a draw with Mtine Joy Jottie (1949) but Funmi Akinola restored Nigeria' s lead with a long end game win against Chileshe Mbatha after Vivian Dzaayem had lost to Lorita Mwango on board four.


Courtesy Femi Solaja
Istanbul, Turkey

HOMELESS WORLD CUP 2012: Nigeria in Group B

Nigeria will play in the Women's Homeless World Cup in Group B alongside Brazil, Argentina, England, India, Canada and Kyrgyzstan.

The draw for the Homeless World Cup was held in Mexico City. President and Co-Founder of the Homeless World Cup Mel Young was present at the draw, as well as members of the Local Organising Committee.

Leading the Nigerian Women's Team as Head Coach is Germany based Helen Schonbrodt with Nigeria's own Jide Oguntuashe assisting.
Sarah Iloduba lead the pack of players representing Nigeria, Toyosi Alogba, Nimot Ahmad, Peace Ozehudu, Sudan Abidoye and Omolara Kolawole were selected from the three centres in Lagos. The girls were selected based on their skills, commitment and intelligence both on the pitch and during the educational and interactive sessions.
Three girls from Calabar namely: Regina Otu, Glory Henshaw, and Edikan Udoh chosen from the implementation of the Community Connects for Youth Leadership football tournament held in Cross River State in December 2011. They will be joining the girls in Lagos as part of the team for the Mexico 2012 Homeless World Cup.
While on standby are: Rita Monday, Funmilola Adediran, Ololade Fadoyin and Damilola Omotosho from Lagos and from Calabar are: Uduak Jimmy and Ruth Unwana.

Final Camping and Training for the Homeless World Cup will start on The 10th of September till 28th September at the Astroturf 2000 Osbourne, Ikoyi Lagos State.

The Mexico City 2012 Homeless World Cup tournament will take place at the Plaza de la Constitución, Zócalo Square, from 6-14 October, 2012.

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD: Oragwu Powers Nigeria to Victory

Chess Olympiad debutants, Nonso Oragwu, Femi Balogun and Yinka Adesina showed brilliant display in middle play and joined Bomo Kigigha to give Nigeria 3.5-0.5 win over boastful Aruba in the sixth round of the tournament.

The victory was Nigeria’s biggest win so far in 11 round Swiss-event pairing and thus moved the male team to the top in category E while their opponent who where in the second position now slide further to seventh in ranking.

Kigigha showed the team the path to victory on board one with a quick win against Candidate Master Croes Octavio (1915). The Nigerian played in black side of Pseudo-King’s Indian defense variation and after the early development of minor pieces, the Nigerian sacrificed his Knight for a Rook and further increased the tempo on c file on move 20 to win a Knight in the middle play exchange and brought the game to a ruthless conclusion with the Rook sited on seventh rank on move 31.

The win was the tonic for the rest of the debutant with Adesina brushed aside fighting Quintin Seijp after 42 moves. The Nigerian played in white side of Queen Gambit declined and in the early exchange of centre pawns, he seized the control of the game with a Bishop pin on move 14 of Bf5 to win a Rook.

Further exchange of Queens enabled the Nigerian chess master to sustain the advantage till the end of the game. While on board two, Oragwu extended the country’s win to three with a long end game against Jose Pesqueira (1986) but Femi Balogun failed to sustain his slight advantage against Pablo De Mey (1882) to give the Arubans a consolatory half point of the day.

In the female section, the Nigerian still maintain its inability to earn a match point so far in the tournament with another 2-2 score line with Zimbabwe. The brilliancies of Tobi Olatunji and Nsisong Asanga had given the country a two point lead on top boards against Melisa Zengeni and Colletta Wakuruwareiwa respectively.

The South African nation rallied back with wins against Funmi Akinola on board three when Rhoda Masiyazi won in along end game situation while Oluchi Dikeocha had her first baptism in the global chess event as she cracked from the easily to Matilda Zengeni.

Courtesy: Kunle Solaja