Over 40 professional, amateur chess players ready for ABN Rapid Chess Tournament
By Tosin Omojola
The Ahmad Bolaji Nagode (ABN) Rapid Chess Tournament is set to bring together over 40 professional and amateur chess players in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Designed to promote chess culture and nurture local talent, the event will be held at the Chess Club Academy, Tanke Oke-Odo, in Ilorin South Local Government Area.
The tournament is organized by the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), under the leadership of renowned international arbiter Dr. Bode Dutoye and Hajia Hikmot Omotayo, in collaboration with the Kwara State Chess Association.
The event is sponsored by Alhaji Ahmad Bolaji Nagode, a chess enthusiast and veteran player. Nagode, who represented the University of Ilorin during his Master’s degree program in 1989, also competed in the famous Hamzat Ibrahim NEPA Chess Competition, winning prizes. His sponsorship reflects his dedication to the growth of chess in Ilorin and Kwara State.
Notable participants include Nigeria’s reigning National Open Chess Champion and Superintendent of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Adeoti Oladapo Bolaji; Nigeria’s North Central Women’s Champion, Alhaja Abdulsalam Merydiyya Kehinde; Emmanuel Anuebunwa; and Ojo David.
The tournament will follow a rapid chess format, requiring quick decision-making and strategic thinking. Participants will compete across various categories, including male, female, and junior divisions.
The organizers emphasized the event’s inclusivity, with special prizes for the Best Female Junior category to inspire fearless competition among young and female players.
In addition to the main tournament, a National Arbiter Certification Seminar will take place from November 26 to 30. This seminar aims to equip chess officials with the necessary skills to effectively manage future tournaments.
