6,000 players for NB Plc Chess Open

6,000 players for NB Plc Chess Open
Written by Niyi Alebiosu
Friday, 20 August 2010

ABOUT 6,000 players across the country have indicated interest to participate at the 33rd edition of the Nigeria Breweries International Open Chess Championship which attracts N800,000 as prize money.

Edem Vindah, Media and Public Affairs Manager of NB Plc who represented the Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Yusuf Ageni at a media briefing to herald the championship scheduled to hold from August 22 to 28 at the National Stadium, Lagos, said that the sponsorship of the championship remains one of the company’s several youth empowerment support initiatives.

Vindah stated that the partnership with the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) to sponsor the event for 33 years consecutively is predicated on the belief that sports plays a major role in the development of vibrant society.

Vindah gave the breakdown of the N800,000 prize money as follows: FIDE section; N250,000, category one; N150,000, category two; N100,000, ladies N120,000, U-14 boys; N25,000, U-14 girls N25,000 as SWAN section attracts N50,000 and veterans N80,000.

He assured of continuous sponsorship of the event, adding that the championship is expected to present another opportunity to the NCF to sharpen and build on the strength of their players who will represent Nigeria at the World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia holding from September 19 to October 4 this year.

Also speaking, NCF president, DCP Sani Muhammed having expressed appreciation to the sponsor for its continuous sponsorship disclosed many foreign players would participate at the next edition saying some would have been at this year’s edition but for the World Chess Olympiad, they were excused so as to have enough time to prepare.

Source: http://www.tribune.com.ng