The 1st round of the 9th W.U.C.C, taking place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria started
late. This was due to the late arrival (from Greece or thereabouts) of electronic chess boards, without which the games couldn’t be viewed live on the Internet. The round, which ought to have started for 3.00pm Nigeria time(14:00 GMT), eventually began at 7:45pm local time, some 4hrs 45 min behind schedule. Needless to say the visiting contingents were not at all pleased with the delay and the fact that they still had to play one round which could possibly last till 1:00 am!
The host team (whom are quite familiar with such punctuality), to the contrary, were quite relaxed and seemed ready for the nights exertions. To be fair, the officials were literarily running around, to see that the games could begin, although, this begs the question "Why run around now ? Why not some time between August 2005 when the rights were confirmed and this very moment?”. Any way, enough about all that, the clocks have been started, the games have begun and we'll bring the first round report to you tomorrow......on time!!! ............................................................................................
IFE LEADS THEM ALL!
Obafemi Awolowo University Ile- Ife has once again proven her
ranking as one of the best institutions in the country.
Ife, as we also call this prestigious institution of excellence, has produced the bulk of players representing Nigeria in the 2006, WUCC holding at Eko, Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Prominent amongst these are Abimbola Ogunnowo,
(Medicine), Ajibowo Olamide (Food Technology) and our only titled female player, Oluwatobiloba Olatunji (Engineering Physics) who has won many national accolades since the age of 10.Others (whom are no less accomplished) are Edunwale Abimbola (Statistics) and Togun Folusayo with quite a few national sports medals between them.
In the past, this institution has also produced great chess minds like (IM) Oladapo Adu, former National Champion and also Oyeyemi Fawole former National junior champion who is currently studying Computer Engineering.
And so I salute this institution, Great Ife! And you shall reply,Great! AKOKites no regrets!no greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........t
It was a disastrous 1st round for the host nation. All members of the team (with the exception of Ademola Sorungbe who was on a bye) lost their games .Allor and Ajibowo were OK out of the opening and got playable middle game positions. However Allor liquidated into an inferior ending and lost (to Ni Hua rated 2607, a Grandmaster (GM) from China).Ajibowo, also in a good position, underestimated a passed pawn in his game against Jenni Florian (2481 and a GM from Switzerland) and lost. So did everyone else besides the fore mentioned Sorungbe.
The Nigerian girls also suffered the same fate. Miss Edunwale
playing, an exchange French, looked okay after the opening but,
within a few moves, she got into some difficulty and Seps Monica (WIM from Switzerland) duly converted the point.
Ajayi and her opponent Gong Qiangym(WIM From China) seemed
reluctant to leave the opening. Both players refused to go into the middle game for an hour plus and eventually, when they did get there Chinese lady sacrificed her light square bishop on g4 and....you know the rest.So what happened to our players? Well there are many possible explanations, but I'll settle for just one.
Our representatives, simply have not had enough tournament
playing time (only the one tournament{rapid} this yr). The other
contingents, as I have learnt are coming from (and leaving for) other events and, are as such, in the playing mode..
The other game results were a clear reflection of rating strength. GM Bu Xianghi (2604, the highest rated player in the tournament) beat Iran’s, Mohajerin Peyman.The game started 1.e4....... 13 minutes later the black replied 1... C5!?(annotation credited to Bu) and with a 300+ rating difference Bu won. Also, as is expected, all titled female players won there games.
Sadly, as at the time of this report first round games were not available and as such, we leave you with pictures from the first day and with a promise to get the games for the subsequent rounds.
The Second round started right on time. The surprise game was on board 1, Darban(IRI 2390) held top seed GM BU to a draw. On board 2 Ni Hua(CHN),beat Kuemin of Switzerland.
Van Beek (NDL) lost to GM Ghamaghami (IRI) On board 3 and GM
Florian(SUI) Switzerland beat D'costa(BEL).
On The home front, Bomo drew with Peyman(IRI) while both Allor
and Ajibowo dispatched their Ghanaian opponents.Demola was a
pawn up against Willemze(NDL) but did't make much progress and
he subsequently lost the pawn and the game. Ogunowo played and lost to Oteri.
To the ladies, Salman(IRI) drew with top seed Marlies(NDL) on
board 1 while Gong (CHN) beat Ghaderpour (IRI). In this round,
there were two all Nigerian piarings.Lola played and beat Togun while Ayo lost to Sharon. Edunwale lost to Zhang(CHN) and Tobi defeated Yueh(TAI).
On the top board Ni Hua (CHN) beat De Jong(NDL) on board 1,
Ghaemmaghami defeated Willemze on board two and Bu beat
Vulleumier Alexadre. FM Alavi(IRI),did well with the white
pieces and drew with GM Jenni Florian(SUI).
Olamide drew with Van Beek(NDL),Oteri lost to D'costa & Allor, exchange up, managed to lose what must surely be a won position (see game) to Sorungbe.Bomo & Ogunnowo both beat there
Ghanaian opponents.
In the Ladies, Paridar(IRI) lost to Gong(CHN) on board 1 while Marlies (NDL) drew with Navabi(IRI) on Bd 2. Sharon lost to Laura (NDL) While all the other girls drew. Tobi with Ghaderpour(IRI),Lola with Zhang (CHN) & Ayo with Yueh(TAI). Togun played and drew with Edunwale.
“There was A PROBLEM WITH HEAD SCARFS' …….” says N.U.G.A secretary
The secretary of the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) is ordinarily a busy person. Couple this with being secretary to the organizing committee of the 2006,WUCC and you’ll have a very busy man. I was able to squeeze out an interview opportunity with Mr Bola Oridele, N.U.G.A secretary. Here are exerts,
Q : How did Nigeria get to host this event?
A : In 2000, we lost the opportunity to host at the time because we couldn’t get government approval on time and so the rights had
to be given to another country. Please note that, this is the first any FISU championship is holding in Nigeria and indeed West Africa. We have been a member nation of FISU since 1969, & at the time, we felt that considering our participation in its events and the length of our membership, it was good idea to bring other countries to ours, so they can know more about us.Initially, it was to go to Iran, but there was a problem with compulsory scarves for the ladies. Some countries considered this an infringement on the rights of the participants, and so we won the re-bid.
Q : When was this?
A : This was 2005. The initial bid was in 2004 but we got the nod in 2005.
Q : Now, the event is in progress and is scheduled to end in a week, what are the benefits to us, as hosts?
A : The benefits are enormous, For Nigerian players, there is the pride in representing one’s country. Sports this days goes along with tourism and as you heard the music played all through the opening ceremony was indigenous. Also, on the rest day (ie Friday) we will visit the Alake of Egba land, Olumo rock and also the Adire district in Abeokuta. This is our own way of opening Nigeria to the world. We hope the visiting contingents will look at Nigeria and Nigerians differently when they leave.
Q: : For chess players in the university system, the major
championship is the NUGA games. Are there arrangements for the
intervening years for competitions amongst universities?
A : Yes, ultimately we intend to have such tournaments. We have stabilized the West Africa University Games (WAUG) and we have brought back African University Games (AUG) and with success at this event God willing Govt will be ready to sponsor us to other events.
Q :Considering your last remark, this is the first time Nigeria is participating in a FISU chess event. What are the reasons for this and what can be done about it?
A : In Nigeria, football is a passion. Then may be next would be Basketball. What I mean is, if you look at the sports ladder, Chess is unfortunately on the bottom rung. I believe this affects it’s development. Also some don’t see it as a sport but as mere intellectual exercise. They may be right, but every sport requires intellectual fitness, though, the degree may vary.
Only 1 round was scheduled for the day & what a round it was! The top 2 Male Boards were all Grandmaster affairs! Ni Hua (CHN) met Ghaemaghami(IRI) while Florian(SUI) met Bu (CHN). Both Chinese players won and are on course to meet in the next round. NI Hua leads with 1/2 from Bu .On Board three, Willemze (NDL) beat Alavi (IRI) and Vanpeer(NDL) lost to Dejong (NDL) on board four.
Sorungbe lost (in brilliant fashion) to Kuemin(SUI). In a Kalashnikov Sicilian, the Swiss played an early 9...f5!? (See game) & began a deadly attack. To be fair, Sorungbe had his chances but after Nxf2! & Rxf2! all was lost.Bomo,Ajibowo and Ogunnowo all lost, while Allor & Oteri won their games. In the ladies, Gong(CHN) beat Salman(IRI) on the top board while, the Bensdorp sisters(NDL) drew on the board 2.
Tobi lost to Seps(SUI),Lola lost to Ghaderpour(IRI) & Sharon lost (amidst tears) to Zhang(CHN).She was, at various stages, a piece up, an exchange up, and later a piece up again! Her tears were quite understandable. Edunwale lost (while experimenting) to team mate Ayo while Togun drew with Yueh(TAI).
Games 1-4 were all drawn.Bu with teammate Ni Hua (CHN), Ghaemaghami (IRI) & Kuemin (SUI) ,Dejong with teammate Willemze (NDL) & D'costa (BEL) with Mohajerin (IRI) Allor Lost to Oteri, while Bomo beat Sorungbe(see game). Ajibowo & Ogunnowo, both beat their Ghanaian opponents, Ni and Owoeye (a Nigerian playing for Ghana).
In a crucial game Marlies(NDL){highest rated female player} lost to Gong (CHN). Gong is now in the lead with a 100% (5/5) score. On
board two, Seps (SUI) drew with Laura (NDL). Lola lost to Salman (IRI), Ajayi lost to Tobi, Sayo beat Sharon & Edunwale overcame Yueh.
This round produced the most stunning game and result of the
tournament, so far!!Ni HUa(CHN) 2607 played Alavi(IRI) 2314 on
board one. In a dificult ending (see game), he had less than a minute to make a move, upon which, thirty seconds would be
added to his clock. He either didn't know the how little his time was, or, he (like quite a few of the players have done this week) waited till the last possible moment before playing. In any case he lost on time, i.e He made his move and pressed just as the clock changed to 00:00. He was understandably disturbed. Elsewhere, Bu(CHN) beat Willemze (NDL), Kuemin (SUI) beat De jong (NDL) and Peyman lost to compatriot Ghaemmaghami (IRI). Ajibowo managed to sneak a draw with Oteri, though later analysis showed with best play ,he ought to have lost.
GM Florian (SUI) beat Bomo, Allor drew with Carron (SUI), Ogunnowo beat Van peer (NDL) and Sorungbe drew with Hou (CHN).
Compatroits Gong and Zhang (CHN) drew on board 1 while Salman and Gaderpour (both from IRI) drew .
Tobi lost to Marlies, Ajayi lost to Togun, Lola beat Bimbo and Sharon lost (amidst tears yet again) to Yueh. This time, unfourtunately, her phone rang which led to an automatic disqualification.
There are no games tomorrow(we are going on tour)so see you on
Saturday!!
Today had earlier been set aside, by the Organizers for a tour
of Abeokuta city and a Gala Ceremony at the University of Lagos. This is to acquaint the foreign delegations with the culture and peoples of the host country.However, at the time of departure, there was a slight problem. The Arbitrating officials, (who had not been paid there allowances) embarked on a demonstration.Simply,they stood in front of the tour convoy and said they wouldn't leave till they were paid. The Secretary General, NUGA, Mr Olorode appealed to them to be 'patient' and not 'disgrace the nation before guests. During this dialogue, the Chairman NCF DSP Sanni intervened. He spoke with both parties (it was later learnt that the said fees were paid in full) and so at 10:am (after a 1hr delay) the trip began. Though the writer had visited the tour destination, Abeokuta, on several occassions, this was to be a very different experience.
The city of Abeokuta, founded in 1830, is a very special place in Yoruba Lore .As legend has it, Abeokuta, which literarily means "under the Rock", was discovered by displaced "Egba"(a Yoruba tribe) people who sought a place to settle, away from the old "Oyo" Empire (then the parent Yoruba race).Scouts were sent forth and they came across "Olumo" rock, under which they took refuge and fought of there enemies.
The first tour stop was the Alake of Egbaland's Palace, where the
"Kabiyesi"(Paramount Ruler) and his court were on display in all there splendour.The Kabiyesi adorned a befitting "Agbada" (ceremonial Yoruba atire) of "Adire" cloth, which he said was deliberately chosen ,to show his visitors the tradition of the Great city and people of Abeokuta. After the usual eulogy of court, the members of the different delegations, foreigners first, then the host nation, were introduced in turn to the Kabiyesi.In a funny moment the captain of the Nigerian team, Abimbola Ogunnowo,began his address to the "Oba"(King), like everyone before him, on his feet! He ofcourse, was duly scolded and led to “Dobale”(prostrate as all indegenes, like himself, of yorubaland should do) before the King.
The kabiyesi welcomed the guests and told them, breifly, about
his domain. He also emphasized the presence and peaceful
coexistence of Muslims,Christains and Traditionalists which gets
very little mention in the media. He then thanked the organizers
and participants for there visit and implored them to come back
soon.
The tour then continued on to Olumo rock, situated in the heart
of Abeokuta.The historical monument, which served as shelter and
fortress to the Egba during the Yoruba inter-city wars, is always a sight to behold. The structure, in recent times, has undergone a modernization of sorts with well situated staircases, a "see through" lift for the old, disabled and lazy (like my self!).But no matter how you get to the top, the view is well worth it. It is simply breathtaking. And understandably the "Tourists" did not want to leave when the time came.
The participants visited the Adire district, where the traditional tie & dye cloth of the people of Abeokuta is produced. Finally, before heading back to Lagos, we saw the Abeokuta (18 hole) Golf course, said to be one of the best in Sub-region.
The contingent then left for the University of Lagos for a brief Gala ceremony, where we had dinner and were entertained with lot's of indegenous music and coreographed dance. And so it ended and as we look forward to the rest of the tournament. We hope the exertions of day, do not affect tomorrows play!
......................................................................................................................
ROUND 7
On board 1, Bu (CHN),on six pts,played and drew with
Ghaemagami (IRI), Fm Alavi (IRI) drew Kuemin (SUI) on board 2 and on board 3 D'costa (BEL) lost to Ni Hua (CHN).
The game of the round was on the fourth board where Nigeria's own Efemuai Oteri took on and drew with GM Jenni Florian (SUI) (Elo 2481).Oteri had the white peices and played an obscure english line which gave both sides a lot of play.He could have, on move 51 played Qd2 to which there seems to be no satisfactory reply, but all in all the draw is a fantastic result for the young man!So,Bu and Ni
Hua are currently in the lead with Ghaemmagami half a point
behind.
Elsewhere, Ajibowo lost to Vulleumier (SUI), Ogunnowo lost to
Peyman (IRI), Bomo beat NI (GHA) (His third a Ghanian opponent!)
and Sorungbe beat Kluffio (GHA).
To the ladies, Navabi (IRI) drew with Gong (CHN) on the top board
while on board 2 Salman (IRI) drew with Zhang (CHN). Togun lost to
Ghaderpour (IRI), Tobi lost to Laura,Alabi lost to Ajayi (phone rang!) and Edunwale drew with Sharon. Gong leads the ladies with
six points, with Zhang, Navabi and Ghaderpour close
behind.
Kuemin (SUI) lost to Bu (CHN) on board 1, Ni Hua (CHN) beat
Florian (SUI) on board 2, Ghaemagammi (IRI) beat De jong (NDL) on board 3 and Van Beek (NDL) lost to Alavi (IRI) on bord four.
Oteri, playing black, continued his remarkable run of form (he has
4pts from the last 5 games!) by beating Vulleumier (SUI) (Elo
2402). In the Moscow variation of the Sicilian (see game), Vulleumer played the unusual 12 b3 which led to a quiet game. The swiss player did'nt make to many errors but the few ones made were fatal, and so the victory takes Oteri to an impressive score of 5/8.
Sorungbe lost to Peyman(IRI), Allor beat Klufio(GHA), Bomo lost to Hou(CHN) and Ogunnowo was on a bye. Bu and Ni Hua are still tied going in to the last round with Ghaemmagammi half a point behind. Gong(CHN) drew with Laura(NDL) on the top board and on board 2
Ghaderpour(IRI) drew with Marlies(NDL).
Ajayi lost to Salman,Navabi(IRI) beat Togun,Tobi lost to Zhang(CHN), Seps (SUI) beat Sharon and Edunwale lost to Paridar. Gong is still in the lead with6.5 points, 1 point clear of field and only requires a draw to take the title! Navabi and Salman are currently tied for second place.
Bu (CHN) and Ni Hua (CHN) both won their games and remain tied on 7.5 points (Bu won due to a better S.B score), with Ghaemmagami on 7 pts after defeating D'costa.Oteri's winning streak came to an end with a loss to Kuemin and so ended with 5/9, which should be enough for an FM title.Gong drew with Seps (SUI) and so won the women's event with 7 points, while Salman and Zhang were tied on 6.5 (Salman took the runner up spot with the better S.B score). Omolola Alabi played and beat WGM Paridar (IRI) who is rated 150+ Elo points above her. Although this did not get her any medal, she has shown that she is capable of competing at this level.
So, it’s time to take stock. What have we achieved? We have exposed our “young” talents (many of them for the first time) to an international tournament but what's next? To begin with, we haven't had any tournament this year and it does seem that this might still be the case when the year ends in a few months.We do not have a youth program for discovering,trainig,and growing of young players. Next year is the All African Games (in Algeria) and chess is one of the medal sports.What are we doing to see that we have a better outing than the last one when we got 3 gold medals? These questions (and many more like them) and there answers will determine the fate of chess in Nigeria. It is this writers wish that they are taken serioiusly and that solutions are found and implemented.
All in all, it has been an eventful week with lots of surprises, fun and above all some very good chess. It’s the author's sincere wish that the Nigerian contingent takes away with it confidence and also the knowledge that they still have quite a bit to learn. And to our guests a smooth ad safe departure, and a promise to visit when they can!
The secretary of the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) is ordinarily a busy person. Couple this with being secretary to the organizing committee of the 2006,WUCC and you’ll have a very busy man. I was able to squeeze out an interview opportunity with Mr Bola Oridele, N.U.G.A secretary. Here are exerts, 
Sorungbe lost (in brilliant fashion) to Kuemin(SUI). In a Kalashnikov Sicilian, the Swiss played an early 9...f5!? (See game) & began a deadly attack. To be fair, Sorungbe had his chances but after Nxf2! & Rxf2! all was lost.Bomo,Ajibowo and Ogunnowo all lost, while Allor & Oteri won their games. In the ladies, Gong(CHN) beat Salman(IRI) on the top board while, the Bensdorp sisters(NDL) drew on the board 2.
Games 1-4 were all drawn.Bu with teammate Ni Hua (CHN), Ghaemaghami (IRI) & Kuemin (SUI) ,Dejong with teammate Willemze (NDL) & D'costa (BEL) with Mohajerin (IRI) Allor Lost to Oteri, while Bomo beat Sorungbe(see game). Ajibowo & Ogunnowo, both beat their Ghanaian opponents, Ni and Owoeye (a Nigerian playing for Ghana).
