ALL AFRICA GAMES: NCF Invites 50 Chess Masters
Monday, 06 June 2011 01:48
Notable chess masters will storm Lagos from today for the Nigerian Chess Federation (NCF) Trials for the All-Africa Games later this year in Maputo, Mozambique.
According to the Secretary of the federation, Bidemi Ganiyu-Opolo, 30 male and 20 female players were invited for the five-day tournament which will produce qualifiers for the final round camping.
The male list are, Adebayo Adegboyega, Umar Abdulkadir, Yinka Adesina, Odion Aikhoje, Olamide Ajibowo, Olanrewaju Ajibola, Inimo and Bomo Kighiga, Lolomari George, Charles Campbell, Tolu Ogunwobi, John Fawole, Bunmi Olape, Kolade Onabogun, Benjamin Omorere, Ademola Shorungbe and Tobuiye among other.
The invited players in the female category are, Rosemary Amadasun, Doris Adebayo, Adeola Bisiriyu, Alexis Dikeocha, Abimbola Edunwale, Tobi Olatunji, Yetunde Odumade, Phybian Omongbale, Ada George, Rachael Dappa, Nneoma Aguta and Vivian Dzaayem among others.
The President of the Federation, DCP Sani Mohammed, is expected to address all the participants before the start of round one where the entire qualification format would be made known to the players.
“We are have a record of brilliant performance at the previous all-Africa games and we know fully well that anything short of a better performance is unacceptable and this explain why all the best players have been given long time invitation to attend this crucial trials and we only hope the best players represent the country later this year in Maputo,” the chess boss disclosed last night.
The players are expected to go through nine-round Swiss event pairing with 10-12 players from each category now go into a round robin final qualification series before the games proper this September.
Nigeria won three gold medals at the last edition and odds favour Nigeria to win more medals aside the individual board order but the team event as well.
Source: http://www.compassnewspaper.com
Are there 50 masters in Africa?