No fewer than 40 professional and amateur chess players are expected to compete in the Ahmed Bolaji Nagode (ABN) Rapid Chess Tournament scheduled for November 30 in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Ali Durotoye, Technical Director of the Nigeria Chess Federation and Vice Chairman of the Kwara Chess Association, announced the event on Sunday in Ilorin.
He explained that the tournament aims to promote chess culture and nurture local talent in the region.
The tournament is sponsored by Alhaji Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, a chess enthusiast and veteran player who has a long history in the game. Durotoye shared that Nagode, a former player for the University of Ilorin during his Masters degree in 1989, has been a passionate contributor to the chess community in the state.
Nagode also participated in the prestigious Hamzat Ibrahim NEPA Chess competition, winning numerous accolades.
“This Chess tournament is part of Alhaji Ahmed Bolaji Nagode’s contribution to the development of chess in Ilorin and Kwara State,” Durotoye said.Among the competitors are several renowned players, including Nigeria’s reigning National Open Chess Champion, Adeoti Oladapo Bolaji, who is also a superintendent with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Other notable players include Merydiyya Abdulsalam, the North Central Women’s Chess Champion, as well as Emmanuel Anuebunwa and Ojo David.
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The tournament will follow a rapid chess format, which requires quick decision-making and strategic thinking, and will feature participants across multiple categories, including male, female, and junior players.
The organizers emphasized the event’s focus on inclusivity, with special prizes for the best female and junior players, aimed at encouraging competition among young and female participants.
In addition to the tournament, a National Arbiter Certification Seminar will be held from November 26 to 30.
The seminar will equip chess officials with the necessary skills to manage future tournaments effectively.
Durotoye confirmed that the Nigeria Chess Federation and the Kwara Chess Association are both supporting the event.