Nine-year-old wins All Primary School Chess championship
By Allwell Okpi
June 10, 2009 11:34PMT
Nine-year-old Ezra Lee, a grade three pupil of Children’s International School, Lekki, emerged as the best player at the second annual Pedachess All Primary School Chess Championship on Wednesday.
About 160 pupils from 20 primary schools in Lagos competed in the two-day championship which was held at Chrisland Schools, Opebi.
Home Science School, Ikoyi emerged as the best team beating Chrisland Schools Ladipo, Ikeja, who were the defending champions.
Little Ezra was full of smiles as he displayed his trophy. He said he started playing chess in 2005 and was taught by his school coach.
“I am very happy. I like chess because it is brainstorming and it makes me to think fast. I will like to be a world champion,” Ezra said.
Ezra’s mother, Anna Lee, who was there to cheer her kid said she did not know her son would win.
“I am glad. I didn’t know he will win because he is just a little boy. I am happy not just because he won but also because of his faith: he prayed before he started playing” Mrs. Lee said.
Olanrewaju Ajibola, the director of Pedachess Educational, organisers of the championship, said it the competition was initiated to aid children academically.
“We have had results. There are some children who were not doing well in school that improved when they started playing chess,” Mr. Ajibola said.
The chief arbiter of the championship, Ogbonnaya Obinna, is the first internationally accredited arbiter in West Africa. He said the quality of the game was high for children the age of the participants.
“The children played very well. The quality of play was very high for their level, especially for those ones who got medals. With what they have displayed in this tournament their future in the game is very bright.” Mr. Obinna said.
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Way to go Ezra!