International Master, Dapo Adu

By Femi Solaja

The much anticipated World Chess Olympiad got underway Tuesday night with the Nigerian team falling 3-1 to their respective opponents in both male and female section.

In the female section, Nigeria lost to Denmark. It was Oluwatobi Olatunji who set the tone of what the day will be for the nation after blundering her pieces to bad positioning to forfeit to Woman International Master Guindy Susanne.
In another game, Funmi Akinola was no match for Jorgensen Carina.

In the male section, International Master, Bomo Kigigha secured a massive win against highly rated Kobose Watu (2363) of South Africa using a Sicilian defence Paulson variation.

After an early exchange of officers in the opening play, his ambitious opponent made a fruitless attempt to trap the Queen, which shifted the advantage to the Nigerian master who consolidated till move 53 when Kobose resigned.

International Master, Dapo Adu had himself to blame for failing to hold on to the early advantage against Solomon Kenneth (2363) and when his opponent finally regained his momentum, Adu was a pawn down on move 43.

Olympiad debutants, Nonso Orawgwu lost on board three to Henry Steel in a double edged position while Femi Balogun misjudged his much experienced opponent Mabusela Mayendi with a sacrifice in the early exchanges.

However, despite the setbacks, team coach, Lekan Adeyemi, assured Nigerians that all hope is not lost with 10 rounds of matches still to play.

"All the players started well but some did not finish well, I think we need to work on their positions in the end game," he commented.