Femi Solaja
The busy schedule that the Nigerian chess scene recorded last year may have benefitted the country’s players following the award of FIDE Master title to five players in the latest ranking released by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) wednesday.
The players namely, Bomo Kigigha (2363), Daniel Anwuli (2346), Oyeyemi Fawole (2170), Ochuko Onovughe (2212) and Abimbola Osunfuyi are the newest Nigerian players to earn the FIDE status based on their respective performances in all rated tournaments recently.
The five players thus join the likes of Adebayo Adegboyega (2264), Eugene Unwana (2170) and Olamide Ajibowo (2107) who have been bestowed with the honour before now. Another player, Etok Oyama (2000) was rewarded with FIDE Candidate Master title.
Other previous Candidate Master title holders are, Femi Balogun (2249), Ademola Sorungbe (2236), Adeyinka Adesina (2123), Charles Campbell (2164), Chukwunonso Oragwu (2143), Benjamin Omorere (2114), Hakeem Edunwale (2111) and Roland Dieyi (2109).
In his reaction, the President of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), Mr. Lekan Adeyemi, told THISDAY that he was delighted that many chess players are taking the advantage of the platform created by the federation by participating in as many rated events as possible to improve on their individual ratings.
“It is cheering news to Nigerian chess family and I can assure you that more players will earn more ratings and titles this year because we are not going to relent in our quest to make this year busier than the immediate past,” he remarked.
Last year, a total of 24 rated tournaments were organised locally which helped several players to improve their ratings just as Nigerians made their mark in no fewer than seven international tournaments.
The highest FIDE rated players Nigeria have till date still remain the International Master title through Thomas Oparaugo, Dapo Adu, Odion Aikhoje, Fola Akintola and Bunmi Olape.
In the female section, current National Champion, Ofowino Toritshemuwa still maintains her position as the highest ranked player with latest rating of 1793 while Funmi Akinola is next with 1751 just as Mandy Enarevba is third with 1710 and followed by Labake Coker with 1660.
The world chess body calculates the Elo ratings of players and uses these as the basis on which it awards titles for achievement in competitive play: FIDE Master, International Master, International Grandmaster, and women’s versions of those titles.
Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com