Interview: Meet Oris SHARAIBI

Please introduce yourself?

Oris: Olufemi Oladiran Oris SHARAIBI

How and When did You learn Chess?

Oris: A friend of mine taught me the moves in 1975. I was in Form 2 at IGBOBI COLLEGE, YABA-LAGOS. (NIG) then.

What is the highest rating you ever attained?

Oris: My British Chess Federation (BCF) rating got to about 200 (approximately equivalent to 2230 Elo) in the early 1990s.

What is your current rating?

Oris: My 'elusive' FIDE rating will soon be out after my next Spanish tourney.

What is/are your greatest achievement(s) in chess?

Oris: They are so many, but I’ll try to summarize:-

a) 1979 Igbobi College Chess Champion.

b) 1983/84 University of Ife (now OAU) Chess Champion.

c) 1984-NBL (Category B) Champion, Lagos.

d) 1985-5th:-(Masters) Concord National Chess Championships.

e) 1986-3rd-(Masters) Concord National C.Ch.

f) 1986-Best Nigerian Performer@ the Benson & Hedges Grand Prix held @ Eko Hotel, V.I, LAGOS, NIG.:-"In this tournament My first full Swiss International) I defeated the African Champ& No.1:-Asen Afifi of Egypt (IM of 2400Elo rating) who came3rd (6/9)behind GM David Norwood((7.5/9)&IM Andrew Whitely (6.5/9)(Both of England)(2550 & 2450 Elos respectively). My score was 5.5/9 (5th)and the countries represented were: ENGLAND, EGYPT, NIGERIA, GHANA & SENEGAL..--This may have been 21 years ago, but then, it was "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!" for me and the Nigerian Players & Press)1986-In the aftermath of B&H I was asked to join the National Team to the Dubai( UAE) World Chess Olympiad, but I had exams at UNILAG.

h) 1987- I Was on top board (with the best score of 6.5/7) for Ibadan Chess Club when we "mamsered" all comers 5 points ahead of the field to become the first official National Club Champions.

Other members of that Immortal Team were:-Bola(Dada) Oniseere a.k.a "B.D."--Rotimi Odulele, and Dipo "Ricky" Ayoola. This "Nigerian Olympiad" was Hosted and organized by the School of Medicine, University of Lagos (MEDILAG).

i) 1987--I led the Ibadan Chess Club team to Pula, Yugoslavia (Now-"Slovenia") where we joined forces with “Gosa” Shak Klub to win the President Marshal Tito Memorial Chess Festival. I was given a Gold Medal for scoring 100 % (5/5) on top board for our team "Ibadan-Gosa".

j) 1988--1st Position @ the PUNCH National Chess Champs. Venue:-Yola, Gongola State):(5.5/6)--This was THE tournament. You had to win in those days to be crowned “NIGERIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION” that’s how I got that title. GREAT BALLS O FFIRE!!!.

k) 1988--1st Position @ the NBL International Champs. Lagos (with a Perfect Score of 5/5)

l) 1988---1st Position @ the Delta Steel National Champs, Warri, NIGERIA (6.5/7).

m) 1988---1stPosition at the  Mel Ezeokoli Grand-Prix, Lagos, NIGERIA (7.5/9).

n) 1988---Top Board for the Nigerian Team to the World Chess Olympiad, Thessaloniki, GREECE.

o) 1990---Best Nigerian Performer @ the International Tournaments(2) running parallel to the World Chess Olympiad, Novi-Sad, Yugoslavia (Now Slovenia) (5.5/9,x2).

p) 1989-1994---Nigerian Rep. playing and performing creditably well in U.K. International Tournaments such as:-Hastings Colonial, Hastings, Lloyds Bank International, London, Catford Opens, Catford, Sutton Opens, Sutton, Highbury Opens. London & many others.

q) 2006-2007----After becoming a National Arbiter & Coach I led an Immortal Oyo State Mens team as Coach/Player to the GOLD MEDAL in the Chess event at the National Sports Festival hosted by Abeokuta (2006), (Ogun State), NIGERIA.

We smashed all comers till we were 5pts ahead of the field!

Members of this "IRRESISTABLE FORCE" are:- Bds

1) Olufemi Oris Sharaibi

2) Yemi Sorungbe.

3) Tunde ("Toshenko") Omotsho.

4) Bunmi ("Undertaker") Olape.

5) Deji ("Dejavu") Adeyemi.

6) Seye Oluwalasinu..

r) After that I Coached the Nigerian Contingent to a creditable showing in the World University Chess Championship hosted by Nigeria for the first time at Eko Hotel, V.I, Lagos.(2006). Now I’m playing Chess in SPAIN. It’s a brave new world.

What is your greatest upset in chess?

Oris: In 1987, after the hardest preparation I ever made, I got a miserly 2.5/6 at the 7-up Tournament, Lagos. Nothing seemed to go my way,: I was HEARTBROKEN.!! However I learned one valuable lesson:-"...The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill: but TIME and CHANCE happeneth to them all"--Proverbs ch.9-v11.

Tell us about your Educational Background?

Oris: My first school was Richard Cobden School, London, UK. Coming back to Nigeria in 1972 I Finished my Pry education at Mayflower School, Ikenne*Ogun State, and Lagos Progressive School, Surulere/Prys/4 and 5. From 1974 to 1979 I had my secondary education at Igbobi College Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. From 1981 to 1988 I studied Demography and Social Statistics at OAU and Mathematics at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

What really spurred you into playing chess?

Oris: At Igbobi College I was taught the moves by a friend, and by the end of the week I was defeating him consistently. This war game held a compelling fascination for me. It was like entering into another dimension where time, and all my worldly problems did not exist. I could fight a great war, kill the enemy and win. I could also lose, and learn, and furthermore, RESURRECT from the dead again and again and again!!!. Only the Revelation of Jesus Christ and His mysteries surpassed the magic of Chess. I found that I could conduct a complete psychoanalysis of any player just by casing the way he or she plays. I could see their vanity, naivety, and their genius. Chess to me is a Perpetual Adventure of Discovery.