Chess Boss, Adeyemi, Lauds NB Plc on Sponsorship
04 Dec 2013

President of the Nigerian Chess Federation (NCF), Mr. Lekan Adeyemi, has commended Nigerian Breweries Plc, for it’s partnership with the federation in the sponsorship of the major chess championship in the country.

The Chess boss, at a crowded press conference yesterday to usher in the 36th edition of the chess championship which will run from 12th-15th of this month, said the unbroken sponsorship over the years, had helped Nigerian players to compete with some of the best in the world to some extent.

According to him, “our partnership over the years has continued to yield positive results. The cerebral sport in the country has made tremendous progress from a relatively modest status but has grown into homes and institutions as favorite sport and past time intellectually inclined,” he commented.

Already, over 220 participants have registered for the four-day tournament which will come up at the Mobolade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports hall of Teslim Balogun stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

The federation boos explained that prizes would be won in seven categories namely; Masters section, Open, Amateur one and two, VIP section and Under 14 boys and girls.

In his response, the Corporate Media and Brand PR Manager, Nigerian breweries Plc, Mr. Edem Vindah, who represented the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, noted that the company’s partnership with chess federation is perhaps the longest sponsored chess tournament in the country and probably the longest partnership between Nigerian sport and a private sector company.

“We are proud to be associated with Chess federation I their march towards producing world class players. The enthusiasm shown towards the game and the discovery of budding talents over the years has no doubt confirmed that Nigerian Breweries’ continuous partnership with NCF is not in vain,” he stated.

The tournament will be in seven round Swiss event paring with the star prize winner going home with N250,000 and corporate gift from the sponsor. In all a total of N1.5m cash prizes would be won in the four day tournament that will attract a great assemblage of best chess players in the country.
 
Kolade Onabogun was the champion of the last edition.

Source: http://www.thisdaylive.com

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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