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What a way to end the year in chess. 14
rounds, the two colors against one opponent, and plenty of
bonus prizes along the way; the December 19th
‘Friends of Chess’ was a deeply rewarding experience even
for those that did not win prizes. In congruency with that
experience, we are presenting multiple reports in this news
article. The first is from Ayodele Abejide, the founder of
the facebook group Nigeria Chess Players Association, while
the second is from the great organizer himself Dasaolu
Rotimi. We are pleased to bring this special treat to you.
Abejide Ayodele’s Report
The last Friends of Chess (sponsored
by chess players in Nigeria and Diaspora) for 2009, was held
at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria building in the
National Stadium, Surulere. The first round commenced at
about 9:00 am with a field of about 65 players which
included masters, opens, ladies and veteran players.
Players like Simbo Olabode and Mrs. Doris Adebayo came in
from as far as Ibadan.
The tournament format was a Swiss with
8 minutes plus 3 seconds added time from move 1, with white
and black against the same opponents.
The peak moment of the tournament was
the final round of the tournament, when top seeded player
Bunmi Olape (2263) played against the organizer Rotimi
Dasaolu on board one to determine the winner of the
tournament. In the second game Bunmi Olape having the white
pieces opened with e4 and Dashe respond with a d5. It went
on as a main line Scandinavian defense until Dashe picked
the d4 pawn with his queen. At that, Olape looked dazed but
rallied and picked the g7 pawn seeking counter play. After
a little series of move involving a bishop sack by black,
they arrived at the following position:
Dashe continued with 0-0-0, with a
threat of a perpetual check, but Bunmi replied with Bc4, and
the game continued QxBc4, Bg5, and after some thoughts Dashe
resigned in this position:
Game 1 between Bunmi Olape and Dasaolu Rotimi
The other interesting Duet was between
Gbenga Oloruntola and Charles Campbell which ended in an
upset with the former winning 2-0
Charles Campbell was one of the sponsors.
Report of Chief Organiser, Dashe
The December 2009 friends of chess took
place at the SWAN building of the national stadium on the
19th of December with 65 players comprising 22 Masters, 38
Opens and 5 Ladies. Out of the 60 male players a total of 9
were sponsors namely Wale Adelaja, Diran Ogungbola, Yinka
Adewole, Charles Campbell, Uche Unachukwu, Magnus Ekpiken,
Musa Abdulahi, Isang Udo-Akagha and Emeka Nwosu.
The format for this edition was different from the usual
format as it was 7 rounds with 2 games, black and white,
against the same opponent with a time control of 8mins + 3
seconds added on per move. In the absence of Adebayo
Adegboyega, Bunmi Olape was the top seed. 2nd seed was a
sponsor in person of Charles Campbell, Ajibola Olanrewaju,
Emmanuel Madugwuana, Tolu Ogunwobi and Chike Aniunoh were
seeds 3-6 respectively. Other notable participants were Fola,
Fash, Rahmon and my humble self (that is apart from the
sponsors mentioned above).
Round 1 had no upsets, however Ajibola
could only draw 1-1 with Charles Ejorh, 4th seed Emmanuel
could also only draw with Daniel Korede while I was nearly
taken to the cleaners by a sponsor in person of Yinka
Adewole but I managed to hold on for a 1-1 draw.
Round 2 saw 2 of the oldest
participants in persons of Fash and Rahmon clashing on board
2 and the result was a 1.5-0.5 win for Rahmon. On top board
Bunmi Olape won against Fred Fabeyo but could not take
maximum points, while on board 3 in another clash of oldies,
Fola defeated Mr Abiodun Johnson 2-0.
Round 3 started with only 6 players on
a maximum of 4 points and none of the 6 players could win
2-0.indeed the first 2 boards ended in draws with Oluwole
Oladele drawing with Campbell and Fola drawing with Sumbo
Olabode. On board 3 Toyin Jegede made short work of Femi
Iyanda winning 1.5-0.5. Bunmi Olape on 3.5 points defeated
Rahmon also on 3.5 points, 1.5-0.5.
Round 4 saw players that Kasparov would
describe as "chess tourists" on top board. Jegede defeated
Cyprian Eboka 1.5-0.5, while Olape beat Oladele 2-0 on 2nd
board. Board 3 saw Fola do all the playing with Charles
Campbell collecting the points! He lost 0.5-1.5. Board 4 had
another set of "chess tourists" in persons of Sumbo Olabode
and Dara Adegbayi with the result ending 1-1. It should be
noted that of the 8 players mentioned only Jegede had 5.5
points prior to the start of the round with the others
having 5 points.
Round 5 started with only 2 players on
7 points facing each other on top board and olape nailed
Jegede 2-0. In the battle of the sponsors on 2nd
board Uche Unachukwu and Charles Campbell battled to a 1-1
draw. Uche had 6 points while Campbell had a point less
going into the round. Dara (6) also drew with Emmanuel(6) on
board 3 while on board 4 Femi Balogun (6) defeated Sumbo
Olabode(6) 2-0.
Round 6 saw Olape (9) a point ahead of
the field narrowly edging Balogun (8) 1.5-0.5 on top board.
Board 2 saw the 2nd and 3rd seeds in persons of Campbell and
Ajibola both with 7.5 points, clash and surprisingly it was
a 2-0 whitewash in favour of Campbell on board 3, I(7.5)
took Fash(7.5) to the cleaners beating him 2-0 while on
board 4 Fola and Femi Iyanda both with 7.5 points drew 1-1.
Round 7 started with (a fish that can
bite called Dashe) on 9.5 facing olape (10.5). I remember
proposing a draw to him so I could sort out issues relating
to the prizes and other matters and him refusing saying I
should come and get beaten! Anyway he escaped with a draw by
the skin of his teeth after losing the first game and me
resigning the 2nd in an inferior but playable position. On
board 2 there was a massive surprise in the very last game
to finish as unheralded gbenga Oloruntola (9) seeded 25
defeated highly rated Campbell (9.5) 2-0!! Femi Balogun
(8.5) was unsurprisingly beaten by fola (8.5) 2-0, while on
board 4 an opens player ,rowland (8.5) defeated Femi Iyanda
also by the score of 2-0.
Prizes were given to all masters
players who ended up with 9 or more points, opens players
with 7.5 or more points and female players with 7 or more
points. In the end 10 masters’ players, 10 opens players and
3 female players took something home.
Results
1st Bunmi Olape 11.5/14
2nd Gbenga Oloruntola 11/14
3rd Fola Akintola 10.5/14
3rd Rowland 10.5/14
3rd Rotimi Dasaolu 10.5/14
Gbenga Oloruntola came 1st in the
Opens category while Rowland was 2nd
Ladies
1st Doris Adebayo
1st Caroline Assa
1st Hafsat Bello-Osagie
all 3 with 8/14
Other prize winners are as follows (ED:
These prizes are based on the structure that for Masters
players every point after 9 points earns N200, while for
Opens every point after 8 earns N200. Ladies’was N200 after
7 points.)
Masters
Emmanuel Madugwana 10/14
Uche Unachukwu 10/14
Charles Campbell 9.5/14
Akeem Amosu 9.5/14
Toyin Jegede 9/14
Rahmon Agusto 9/14
Sam George 9/14
Opens
Odunayo Ajiboye 9/14
Cyprian Eboka 8.5/14
Charles Ejorh 8.5
Femi Balogun 8.5
Mr. Xyz! 8.5
Paul N 8
Abiodun Daramola 8
Pictures at the
Event
The venue before the beginning of the event
Chess players waited for the event to begin by playing blitz
in the car park.
In the background Dashe defeated Chike
Aniunoh of Unilag , while in the foreground Tunde also of
Unilag lost to Ajibola Olanrewaju wearing the black shirt on
a light trouser.
Now you see more clearly the game between Dashe and Chike
Aniunoh
Charles Campbell defeated Odunayo Ajiboye in this game.
Bunmi ‘Undetaker’ Olape
Ms. Carolyne Assa vs a hunk.
In this battle of veterans, Abiodun Johnson could not stop
IM Fola Akintola
A shocking draw between Dapo Odugbesan and Olabisi Rabiu
Chief Organiser Dasaolu Rotimi
Modupe Adesanya vs ???
Olufemi Faseyitan defeated the opens category player in this
game.
Oluwole Oladele in action
Abiodun Johnson vs Uche Unachukwu
How many people can you identify in this picture? | 
