Nigeria’s top chess players begin Olympiad trials in Lagos
Nigeria’s highest-rated chess players will begin the race for spots in the national team at the 46th World Chess Olympiad trials commencing from today, Thursday May 7 to 13, 2026 in Lagos. The week-long event will determine the players who will represent the country at the World Chess Olympiad scheduled for September 15 to 27 […]
Nigeria’s highest-rated chess players will begin the race for spots in the national team at the 46th World Chess Olympiad trials commencing from today, Thursday May 7 to 13, 2026 in Lagos.
The week-long event will determine the players who will represent the country at the World Chess Olympiad scheduled for September 15 to 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Organised by the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), the trials will feature 24 leading players split into Open and Women’s categories, with 12 contestants in each section.
At the end of the competition, the top five finishers in both divisions are expected to make Nigeria’s final squad for the global team championship.
According to the technical regulations released for the event, the trials will be played in a single round-robin format over 11 rounds, ensuring every participant faces all other players in their section.
Each game will use the classical time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment added from move one.
Tie-break procedures, if players finish level on points, will be decided by direct encounter, Bucholz score, tournament performance rating and highest number of wins with the black pieces.
The women’s field includes Quickpen Deborah, Suleiman Azumi, Ofowino Toritsemuwa, Onoja Iyefu, Udemba Blessing and Ajanwachukwu Eunice, alongside Michael Bridget, Oloruntola Tobi, Nwankwo Chiamaka, Pelomoh Jessica, Omoruyi Sandra and Samson Peace.
In the Open section, Abdulraheem Abdulrahman heads a competitive list that also features Olisa Tennyson, Eyetonghan Callistus, Aikhoje Odion, Kigigha Bomo and Nyuima Tersee. Others are Okhipo Bartholomew, Akinseye Abiola, Balogun Oluwafemi, Ekunke Goodness, Emmanuel Idara and Lapite Oluwadurotimi.
Speaking with Daily Trust, NCF vice-president Adeyinka Adewole described the Olympiad as the equivalent of the Olympic Games in chess, bringing together countries from around the world every two years.
He said Nigeria has maintained regular participation since the 1970s and is determined to send its strongest possible team to Uzbekistan.
“What we normally do is ensure our best players attend this event. We are prepared because we have the assurance of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to fund us,” he said.