HE CAME!
It was long overdue. For someone who has visited 48% of the countries of the world, it would surely be weird if Nigeria was not added to that list. The occasion: a simultaneous display/lecture to mark renowned Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka’s 77th birthday on July 13th 2011 in Abuja, the beautiful capital city of Nigeria. This event was also being staged as a fore-runner to the Wole Soyinka International Chess Masters’ Classics billed for November 2011 and a get well gesture for the former World Chess Champion, Grandmaster Boris Spassky, a friend of Prof Soyinka who was planing to do the simul chess on Soyinkas birthday before he became ill.
Nigel arrived Abuja to the warm embrace of the President, Nigeria Chess Federation DCP Sani Mohammed at 1am July 13th. He was swiftly checked into the glamorous Transcorp Hilton Hotel where during the course of his stay, he played some off hand chess blitz's with Nigeria chess players at the hotel lobby and a chance meeting (during lunch) with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel who was on a state visit to Nigeria at the time. No doubt this was a memorable visit for a remarkable man.
Dr Nigel David Short, a member of the British Empire (MBE) was born June 1st 1965 in Leigh, Lancashire and earned the prestigious title of Grandmaster at the age of 19. Short is often regarded as the strongest English chess player of the 20th century as he was ranked third in the world, from January 1988 – July 1989. In 1993, he challenged Garry Kasparov for the World Chess Championship, in London. Currently the oldest player in the world top 100, Short is also a chess columnist, coach and commentator.
GM Short became the youngest International Master in history (aged 14) in 1980 and is also a 3 times British Champion, 3 times commonwealth champion, Former European champion and Former world championships finalist against Gary Kasparov (1993).
He has defeated no less than twelve (!) world champions (Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky, Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand, Topalov, Ponomariov, Kasimdzhanov and Khalifman) during his illustrious career and has emerged winner of multiple tournaments in over 20 different countries and 4 continents! He is an irreverent political commentator, a mellifluous speaker, an ardent admirer of the feminine form and a connoisseur of fine alcoholic beverages!
HE SAW
After a good night’s rest, GM Short had a busy schedule ahead of him same day. He visited the simul/lecture venue located at the Press Centre of the magnificent Abuja International Stadium where preparations were in top gear for the day. He then paid a courtesy call on the British High Commissioner, His Excellency, Andrew Lloyd in the company of Mr Kunle Elegbede (International co-ordinator of NCF), Dr Victoria Ezeokoli (past president, NCF) and Mr Charles Campbell (Founder, Candy Chess Academy and member of the organizing committee). Andrew Lloyd and his 8 year old son happens to be long time fans of Nigel Short and so a chess board was displayed on the table upon his arrival. Short also met with Dr Sylvanus Ebigwe, the pioneer NCF president and founding father of chess in Nigeria who gave Nigel some historical perspective of the Nigeria/International chess areana. He also met with the Secretary of the NCF, Mrs Bidemi Opolo.
A press conference was held where GM Short had a parley with the Nigeria Television Authority as well as key members of the committee.
GM Short’s lecture titled ‘The Role Of Chess In Education’ was attended by scores of enthusiastic chess lovers and turned out to be a powerful and enlightening expose.
Nigel also paid a courtesy call to the Director of the National Sports Commission, Dr Patrick Ekeji who is a strong support of the Nigerian Chess with many great initiatives in the pipeline.
HE CONQUERED
The simultaneous display featured mostly members of the Nigerian national team who were camped in Abuja in preparation for the forthcoming All Africa Games scheduled for September in Mozambique and a few other promising players. In total, 25 players squared off against the GM including five kids.
1. IM Bunmi Olape – draw.
2. CM Benjamin Omorere – lost
3. CM Bomo Kigigha – draw
4. FM Olamide Ajibowo – lost
5. Jibola Olanrewaju – lost
6. Inimo Kigigha – lost
7. Fawole John – draw
8. Sunny Eyenghe – draw
9. Lolomari George – lost
10. Oluyinka Adewole – lost
11. Oluwalasinu Seye – draw
12. Ladokun Kolawole – lost
13. Femi Iyanda – lost
LADIES
14. Olatunji Oluwatobi – lost
15. Amadasun Rosemary – lost
16. Akinola Olufunmilayo – lost
17. Nsisong Bassey – lost
18. Phybian Omongbale – lost
19. Vivian Dzaayem – lost
20. Doris Adebayo – lost
KIDS
21. Okeoghene Efoguah (13yrs) – lost
22. Odigie Nomamien (12yrs) – lost
23. Efoguah Ovigue (11yrs) – lost
24. Eche Audu Onoja (8yrs) – lost
25. Iyefu Onoja (7yrs) – lost
The youngest participant, Iyefu Onoja from Benue State was only 7 years old and lasted over two hours with the grandmaster! Iyefu was a bronze medalist at the recently concluded chess event of the National Sports Festival tagged ‘Garden City Games’ and is a real chess prodigy in the making.
The final score was GM Short 22.5 pts and Nigeria 2.5 pts!
Being a complete gentleman, GM Short admitted that he was lost in a few of the games but only managed to hold on by mustering all of his experience! Notable was his game against Bomo Kigigha who was a full piece up and Lamide Ajibowo who failed to react accordingly in a simmering sicilian najdorf when faced with a speculative and dubious Nd5 sacrifice.
All roads lead to Abuja city come November!
Story was written by
Charles Campbell
with minor editing/additions
by Kunle Elegbede
The pictures are now been uploaded to the tournament website: http://www.soyinkachesstournament.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51:spassky-2-play-1st&catid=34:demo
