Emuakpeje Dethrones Kigigha at NB Plc Open Chess Championship

…wins N1m star prize
Returnee and former national champion, Ochuko
Emuakpeje was the hero of the cerebral night, after he
emerged top from the pool of top players at the just
concluded 38th edition of Nigerian Breweries Plc
International Open Chess Championship.
The nine-round Swiss event pairing, was held at the Teslim
Balogun Stadium in Lagos had the awaiting PH.D. holder
in Public Administration at Nnamdi Azikwe University, go
clear first with eight points.  A position he last occupied
five years ago.
The champion’s defining moment came to glare after his
brilliant win over Edet Udeme in the third round and
another massive win over ambitious Abimbola Osunfuyi in
the next round placed him in a good position among the
contenders before the half way mark.
Although he suffered a defeat to former champion, Bomo
Kigigha in the fifth round, he secured perfect score in the
remaining games and returned to the summit of Nigerian
chess since 2010.
“I have been out of chess for a while due to my academic
work but the staggering N1m offered by Nigerian
Breweries Plc was a motivating factor that brought me to
Lagos to participate. I have never represented Nigeria at
any major international competition (Chess Olympiad) but
my victory today no doubt will be the turning point in my
chess career,” Emuakpeje remarked after the presentation
on Sunday.
Kigigha who did not lose any match but suffered many
draw games placed second with 7.5 points and won for
himself N500,000 while Daniel Anwuli was third with seven
point to bag N250,000. In other categories of play, Adejoh
Joshua came top with seven points in the Open section
and won for himself N250,000 while Damilare Akinwamide
was second with 6.5 points and won N100,000. It was
three-way tie for third position with six points each by
Tunde Onakoya, Joma Crim and Lolomari George.
In his closing remarks, the Public Affairs Manager, Nigeria
Breweries Plc, Mr. Thompson Owoka, commended all the
participants for their conduct during the event and urged
them transform the lessons of chess skills in their human
endeavor.
“Chess players are supposed to be discipline and
academically oriented. This sponsorship sponsorship
remains a key element of our several youth empowerment
and talent development initiative. It is a further
demonstration to our dedication to being a responsible
corporate citizen committed to winning with Nigeria,” he
stated.
Among the dignitaries at the closing ceremony are ; the
Assistant Liason Officer, National Sports Commission
(NSC), Mrs. Nkanna Mbora, the President of Nigeria Chess
Federation (NCF), Mr Lekan Adeyemi, the Communication/
Public Affairs Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Patrick
Olowokere and some stake holders in chess.
Aside the huge prize money at stake, chess players were
delighted with the organisation of the five-day event as it
was the first time ever that the Nigeria Chess Federation
will make available chess boards for all participants. The
boards have been donated to the federation by the
Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) early this year. The
gesture allowed free flow of the rounds in all the category
of play.
In all, a total prize money of N3,155,000 prized money
were won in all the seven categories of play.