IM Dapo Adu is one of the most successful chess players in the history of the game in Nigeria. He won a large number of tournaments when he was based in Nigeria. Now in America, he is active in the international tournament circuit and remains a dangerous player. This exclusive interview of Dapo Adu is a must read.

IM Dapo Adu is black against NM Okechukwu Iwu.

Can you please introduce yourself?
Dapo Adu: My name is Oladapo Adu.

When did you start playing?
Dapo Adu: Started playing Chess 1989

Who introduced you to the game?
Dapo Adu: My older brother introduced me to the game.

Tell us about your education.
Dapo Adu: I have an associate degree in Physical and Health Education, currently working on a degree in Teaching and Criminal Justice.

How will you describe your ascent to the top of Nigerian chess?
Dapo Adu: My ascent to the top in Nigeria chess was not something really planned, it all started from playing my older brother who beats me all the time, and as each lose gets mounting I got more fired up and determined to beat him, it took me a couple of months to be able to make him break a sweat, after I was able to defeat my brother, I  then took on the best players in my area then L.S.D.P.S (Housing estate in Ipaja), I cant remember for what period ,but I was able to defeat everyone in my area. Then I was told there was chess in LASU and Yaba college of tech, went there and played the top players and with time I was able to beat the best of them .I was brought back to Earth when I went to Unilag to take on the players there, that’s when I knew there was something like a chess book. My rise in Nigeria Chess was basically through hard work, I studied a lot and I got results, I win the National Chess champ (NBL) in 1994 to become national champion, but my best year in Nigeria chess was 1996 when I won almost all the chess tournament, more about this part later on.

What can you say about chess in Nigeria; then, when you started, and now?
Dapo Adu: Chess in Nigeria then was really booming, a number of tournaments every year at least about 5,I got to play against top players in Nigeria in Blitz and off hand games which also helped me get strong. Now, there is really not  much to talk about chess in Nigeria now, there is hardly any activity apart from Dashe and Chess Heights when it comes to Chess on every level, I know Charles Campbell is doing some chess in schools which I think is great.

Dapo Adu defends a game at the World Open.

What is your present FIDE rating? Are you titled yet?
Dapo Adu: My present fide rating is 2250 and I am an IM

What advice do you have for younger players that are trying to combine chess and academics since you have been there before?
Dapo Adu: Younger players should create the time for both and don’t lack in any of them if u want to come out tops. NEVER take one more serious than the other.

Do you think chess can be played professionally in Nigeria?
Dapo Adu: Chess professionally in Nigeria now is a NO, NO!! What will be the source of income if u are to be a professional chess in Nigeria?

How can Nigerian chess players step-up their level of play?
Dapo Adu: To step up your play level, you have to study and play games, and also play in tournaments, u cannot substitute playing in strong chess events with anything.

IM Dapo Adu vs GM Alex Lenderman 2630

IM Dapo Adu vs IM David Vigorito 2515

NM Alex Sherman vs IM Dapo Adu.

What makes you stand out from other Nigerian chess players?
Dapo Adu: I don’t even know or think I stand out from other players in Nigeria chess ,one thing  that I can say about me is I like to work hard.

Are you thinking of a GM title?
Dapo Adu: GM title…….yeah kind of. its on my mind, but I want to get strong first.

Do you see a Nigerian become a GM in the next 5years?
Dapo Adu: A Nigerian GM in the next  5 years…absolutely!!! Yes.

What is your most memorable chess moment?
Dapo Adu: My most memorable chess moment, hmmm, can't even remember, I have had a number of good tournaments ,you know I will talk about a few which I can easily choose 1 of them.

1.Winning Cable Metal Chess Open section with 11.5/13 points in 1990 ,Owosina Tolani won the masters with the same point.

2.Winning the Olympiad trials in 1994 scoring 11.5/14 rounds, there was a joint tie for second with 9.5 points by IM Odion Aikhoje, NM Okechukwu Iwu, NM Tolani Owosina….I was smoking in that event all my games were home cooking, I had already won the tournament with like 3 rounds to go, and the funny thing is 15 players were invited to play the trials, I was number 16,someone pulled out and then I took the spot, and told myself I was going to surprise everyone, and did I? Thank God for Olympiad trials when It is done the right way, I remember my only loss of the trials was to NM Omotosho Babatunde,I was on a white side of a Fischer Sozin attack, there was nothing to hide from the Great Tosh, he knew my games so well, we were college room mates…..gosh, I can write a book on that event and some others.

3.LASTLY one of my most memorable events would also be scoring  1/7 points  at the Chess Olympiad in Dresden Germany,2008 there is a story behind my woeful performance.

In which tournaments have you represented Nigeria?
Dapo Adu: I have represented Nigeria in a number of Chess tournaments staring from 1994

a. Chess Olympiad Moscow 1994

b. African Team Championship Cairo 1997.

c. African Individual Chess Champ 1998.

d. World chess champion cycle qualifier TANTA,1998

e. Chess Olympiad Elista 1998

f. All African Games Abuja,2003

g. Chess Olympiad Turin,2006.

h. African Individual Chess Championship, Namibia 2007

i. All African Games Algeria,2007

j. Chess Olympiad Dresden Germany,2008.

When did you leave Nigeria for America?                                   Dapo Adu: I left Nigeria July 1999.

Why did you leave Nigeria for America?                                             Dapo Adu: Left Nigeria out of frustration from the Chess scene and of course also for greener pastures, I was actually looking to become a chess professional in Europe, somehow I ended up in the United States.

What is your chess experience in US?                                            Dapo Adu: My Chess experience in US has been mixed, shed a lot of bad habits picked up from Nigeria Chess and also, being able to play strong players on a constant basis is pretty good.

What can Nigeria learn from US chess in a bid to grow the game?    Dapo Adu: Nigeria can learn from US chess by hosting tournaments and also building Chess in Schools.

Do you advice Nigerian chess players to leave the country for US like you?                                                                                      Dapo Adu: Well anyone that wants to leave Nigeria for Chess  either coming to the US or going to Europe, Asia, wherever must  have a plan, and don’t restrict yourself to Chess, think outside the 64 squares.

Can chess players from US visit us?                                                    Dapo Adu: Chess Players can visit Nigeria, that will be really cool and helpful for both parties, we Nigerians get to learn chess from them, and they get to learn our culture and experience what makes us tick.

What can be done to develop chess in Nigeria?                             Dapo Adu: To develop Chess in Nigeria, we have to target other groups, either scholastic Chess, senior citizen chess, got to get creative and innovative, bring about some innovations that will bring about the public and the sponsor, myself and Femi George spoke about an idea few months ago.

How can a chess player improve his game?                                        Dapo Adu: A Chess player can improve his/her game by studying and playing…there is no short cut, if there is one, please tell me I might need it.

Dapo, thank you for your time.

Pictures of Dapo Adu from a Trinidad & Tobago tournament:

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