West African Chess record holder laments neglect 
Monday, 29 October 2012

Mrs Nsisong Asanga, a medical doctor, broke a record in the last Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey and emerged the only woman Fader Master in West Africa. In this interview with Udeme Utip, she talks about her chess life and her aim to get to the next level in the male-dominated game. Excerpts:


RECENTLY you achieved a feat in the game of chess that no female in West Africa has ever achieved, how do you feel about it?

Yes, what I achieved was the Women Fader Master performance at the Chess Olympiad. Prior to the Chess Olympiad, no woman in West Africa had ever attained the score- six over nine. Chess Olympiad is the peak of the game in the world. The world champion was there, other best players in the world came to represent their countries. If you can score six over nine, then, you have what is called the Fader Master which is the second of four titles available for women in the game. By the grace of God at the 2012 Chess Olympiad at Istanbul Turkey, I was able to achieve that feat, scoring six out of nine- meaning I won six out of nine games- each had one point. 


I am very grateful to God because it is a dream come true. Meanwhile, something really amazes me because nobody expected it. Nobody gave us a chance, there was no encouragement. 

While players from other countries went there better prepared, better equipped but in my own case, I went there as a non rated player. Imagine going with zero to play with people who already had 2,000, 200 and so on. it could be quite daunting but I thank God for the internet report. People predicted that the Olympiad would be tough, but I was optimistic. When there was no reason to believe God made it happen. I give Him all the glory. 

You are ranked second in the female group, what is your overall position?

Well, in the world ranking I still have a very long way to go but in Nigeria and West Africa, I am the number one in women ranking now. I am also rated number 14 in the national league. To be rated 14 out of 160 million people is really great for me. 

When did you start playing chess? 

I started playing chess 12 years ago with my younger brother. My playing chess was by accident. I never intended playing but he insisted that I should just give it a trial. Then I noticed that he was always defeating me so, I said this boy hardly beats me in anything intellectual, not a thing of the mind. That period was really challenging and then, the more I played, the more I loved it. So, I found out that it was such a rich game, not just a game. It teaches you life itself, teaches you war, planning etc. I just discovered it was such a rich activity to be involved in and since then, I have been playing up till now. 

Since you discovered the richness of the game and decided to pursue it to this level, did you have any official training to boost your skills?  

I didn’t really have any but one of the things that really helped me was being at the national camp for the All African Games. I was at the camp for the preparation for the 2010 All African Games. It helped me but I have relied mostly on self tutoring and by the grace of God, the help of my husband and textbooks. 

Considering the fact that chess in Nigeria can be seen as not a woman’s game; how did you develop the interest to the extent of going this far? 

Oh yes! I will agree with you, it is not a woman’s game at all in this part of the world because I can remember 12 years ago when I used to come from Ikot Ekpene to play in Uyo, out of over 30 people playing, I was always the only woman but I never really gave a thought to such. I have never really been a conformist. I have always done what I think needs to be done. I have interest in things that interest me and I have read so many books like the Biometry.

Biometry was the first woman world champion, and at a point, she was the only female playing chess in the whole world. I was lucky my own was only a case of Uyo, after Uyo, there were other women playing chess in Nigeria and currently in Akwa Ibom State, there are other females who are making names in the game. People like Dr Mrs Ekaette Etuk and a few others, so I can count myself lucky that at least, I have people to look up to. 

Had you gone for any competition before the last Olympiad?

Yes. I have attended so many competitions both within and outside the state. I have won the Akwa Ibom State women championship for five times consecutively, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and won the 2011 national women championship in Lagos State. I also won two gold medals at the National Sports Festival in Rivers State last year, this had not happened before. Internationally, I have represented Nigeria at the All African Games and had the best performance. So, the Olympiad was the second international achievement. 

Has there been any recognition maybe from the state, federal government, private individuals or c orporate organisations? 

Well, for recognition, I am still praying to God. In Romania for example, when they won the World Chess Championship in the Olympiad, they were received at the stadium, wrapped in their country’s flag and driven in a motorcade around the state. That’s in a country with a population of just 3million people. But I still believe, may be those at the positions of authority haven’t heard. I believe if governors, ministers, commissioners and indeed those that had invested get to know about it, I will definitely have a better reception. 

For 12 years, I have been involved on my own without any recognition or sponsorship. Even when I was preparing for the zonal draw, I ran around for sponsorship but none came. Then, when it was time for the Olympiad, I told myself, hey girl! You have done it for 12 years and God has been with you, when the time comes, recognition will come naturally. Meanwhile, government actually gave us transport fare but we were not equipped. For example, I was supposed to have been given a laptop but I went without one; I needed books but I did not have any; I needed a trainer but I had none but I made it by the grace of God. 

I remember a lady from Denmark walked up to me and asked: you played a fantastic game, are you sure you are non rated? I said yes. This is my first Olympiad and she asked who my trainer was? I said I don’t have any, she said where is your laptop? I said I don’t have. And you could see surprise written all over her face. She didn’t stop there, she asked which chess club I belonged to and I said we don’t have a chess club in my state. She could not understand what I was saying because they have all these things but it was my very first game at my first Olympiad. My very first time of playing at that level and it was a draw. So she was like I have all these things and you still drilled me like that? It means if you had a coach, a trainer, books and support from your government or corporate sponsorship, that means the sky would be your spring board.

We have just one woman Grand Master in the whole of Black Africa and three in the whole of Africa. In Nigeria, we have no woman Grand Master, none. That to me is something that should keep government, organisations and individual sport lovers awake. How come a population of 160million has no grand master? Who can I invest in? But I believe that with what we have achieved in the last Chess Olympiad, someone will come out to say I want to support you. It is even beyond state matter but a national issue.

You started like a joke and you have come this far, what’s your plan for chess?

Well, my future with chess is very bright. I did say it before the Olympiad that I believe we were going to have a good outing and God honoured that faith. So, I see better days ahead. I see Nigerian women Grand Masters coming soon, sooner than anybody will imagine. 

You are a mother, a wife and a medical doctor, how do you combine all these with chess? 

Well, it is by the grace of God and also planning. I have been able to cut out excesses; I don’t have time for anything that is not important. I spend my time on things that are important to me. It is either I am at the hospital, with my children, reading or I am training. I don’t have time for television, sitting down to chat or talk about who is up or down, I focus on things that are rewarding to me. 

You have been doing it all alone over the years, are you actually shopping for sponsorship? 

Oh yes! But the problem is that I don’t know how to get one. But whenever I have this kind of opportunity, I just try to let someone out there know that we are willing, ready and interested in people that can partner with us to the next level. 

I will also want to thank those that have contributed in any way to make my achievement possible. I thank God for his grace and mercy. I appreciate my husband for his love and understanding. My pastor Dr and Dr (Mrs) Abel Damina, as my pillar of support. I almost gave up last year before the Olympiad but he told me to give it one more year, and I can say that within the last one year, I have seen more successes than what I had in the past 11 years. I also thank my parents, brothers and sisters; even my children for their understanding. I mean most of the times I am not there for them but they coped. 

Source: http://tribune.com.ng

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