CHESSHEIGHTS News

Interview: Meet Lola Alabi

She is one of the strongest players in the country. Computer scientist; National Junior champion, several Gold medals from several Sports Festivals University Games and ofcourse All African Games 2007; National team member several times over and a startlng 17 yr veteran of the game. CHESSHEIGHTS brings to you the very talented and "super pretty" Omolola Alabi.

Omolola Alabi

Please introduce yourself.

Lola: My name is ALABI Omolola. I hail from Oyo state, and was born on the 25th of August, 1983.

What is your family background like?

Lola: I’m from a Christian home of 5 – a younger brother (Babajide), an elder sister (Tolu), mum and dad. My dad is a university professor, while my mum is a doctor (….no wonder!!). We all play chess in my family, except my mum (….more occupied with keeping the family).

Give us a brief low-down of your academic qualifications.

Lola: I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Ibadan, Oyo state.

Now let’s get chessy!

What is your present FIDE Rating?

Lola: You’ll have to check. I have no idea. (You’ll have to pay me for this. Actually, as at the last FIDE rating list in Oct. 2007 you were rated 2050 (which had been since Jan. 1999), but I’m very sure it would have gone higher, especially after the AAG in Algiers.)

Are you titled?

Lola: No.

When did you start playing chess?

Lola: 1990. (17years! That’s remarkable!! A lot longer than so many male players – my humble self inclusive)

Who taught you how to move the pieces?

Lola: My dad.

Apart from chess, ‘What else do you enjoy doing?’

Lola: Reading novels, watching movies, watching tennis, watching athletics etc.

Lola (R) with her Libyan opponent (Algiers 2007)

Till date, ‘Can you recall how many tournaments you have participated in?’ And ‘Which ones were your successes?’

Lola: No, I can’t remember all. (Maybe when your autobiography is written we’ll get to know that) (…Smiles). It’s just that there are a whole lot of them. Since 1990….?! / My successes? Hmmm! NBL, NEPA, Sport Festivals (Gateway games 2006, Bauchi 2000, Imo 1998, Makurdi 1996), NUGA 2002 (3 gold medals), NUGA 2004 (2 gold, 1 bronze medals), All African Games 2007 (1 gold medal) ….etc

What would you say your achievements in chess are?

Lola: Pretty good. Tournament victories, national team call-ups, a FIDE rating, probably a title very soon… I think God has been good.

You’ve grown from being a national junior, to being one of the strongest female players in Nigeria. How was chess then as a little girl? And ‘What did chess mean to you then?’

Lola: Hmmm! Let’s see. As a little girl, I simply loved the game. I realized I had a talent for it, and I just played and performed well. But I’m not a chess addict.

What was the experience like, playing in the Under 10 and Under 12 world championships?

Lola: Well, I was very strange. It was my first time of being with so many people from different nationalities. And well, both times, I took ill. Home sickness I guess. They were nice experiences all the same.

Recently, you won a gold medal at the All African Games (AAG) in Algiers. Tell us, ‘How was the road to such conquest?’ Say from the Kaduna trials to Algeria.

Lola: I thank God for the gold medal. Let’s see. Kaduna was BORING! I mean so many months in the place doing nothing but playing chess. It’s not my ideal thing. But the coaches tried, I learnt a number of things I didn’t know before. Besides, I got see peoples’ tolerance and non-tolerance of their fellow team mates. I guess we all learnt to tolerate ourselves. Now, to Algeria, well, it was a really nice experience. There team mates just had to forget their differences, and work together as a team. I was ranked first after all our periodic trials in Kaduna, and so I had to play on board 6 (What a reverse format!) in Algeria. Let’s say I heaped the benefits of performing so well in the Kaduna training camp.

The talented Nigerian female team to Algeria! No scores!!

Is there anything you want our readers to know about your experience in Algiers?

Lola: It was very nice, apart from the fact that I fell ill (Once again!). Our guide was super. His name is Redhouane. He really helped make our (The Nigerian Chess Team) stay in Algeria wonderful. I also got to meet people from other countries. That was cool. The only thing I hated about the place was the food, but hey, I was told the cooks weren’t Algerians, so they are forgiven.

For the benefit of other players in the female category, ‘What is the ‘secret’ to playing good chess?’

Lola: God, practice, reading chess books if you can handle it (I don’t) (Think I noticed that), and well, don’t try TOO HARD. One can become a very strong chess player by talent and hard work. But note; a hardworking chess player with limited talent would most likely not go very far.

Who is this guy? Hnmmm!!!!!

What would you say is the reason why none of our female players has really broken into the ranks of our male elite players in terms of playing strength? Or ‘Are men just better chess players than women?’

Lola: Nope! Men aren’t much better than women. The Nigerian female chess players just have other things occupying their minds. They are more serious with their academics and stuffs like that. Whereas, the male players that have outstanding performances have a lot of minuses which I’ll refrain from mentioning here (no offence). Well, male players are more dedicated to the game, they spend endless hours studying chess books and playing against each other much to the detriment of other important aspect of their lives. They basically take chess to be their lives. Well, maybe I’m just saying this because chess isn’t my profession. But the truth of the matter is that in Nigeria, chess isn’t given the recognition it deserves. So, I really I don’t see why someone will devote his/her live to playing chess here.

As a reputable chess player in Nigeria, ‘What can you do to help solve the current tournament drought in the country?’

Lola: Appeal to the relevant bodies I guess. Look not just for sponsors, but companies who actually believe that Chess players in this country can help bring fame & good reputation to this Country and to their brand. But a sponsor who just sponsors for the sake of sponsoring is no good in my opinion. A sponsor has to believe in the dream or the vision of the venture it’s going into & see it as a long-term investment. So, maybe another way would be to try to publicize the sport more. And also not give up.

Haven represented the country at almost all levels, will you regard yourself as being accomplished, or do you have greater targets in chess?

Lola: Yes, I do have greater targets.

Do you intend getting a title? If so, ‘What are your plans towards actualizing this?’

Lola: I’ll rather keep that to my self for now. That way I’ll be able to actualize them without being under any form of pressure. I’m sorry.

I never knew how much you liked chess until I saw your e-mail address (chessic…@...com). Tell us, ‘What is chess to you now?’ I mean, ‘What does it mean to you?’

Lola: The e-mail address was just a spur of the moment thing. The lack of tournaments and stuffs like that has diminished my enthusiasm, but hey, maybe when I get out of the country I’ll give another reply.

Any word of advice for our present juniors? Being a commendable ambassador!

Lola: There’s no limit to the greatness you can attain, once you set your mind to it. So, work hard, pray hard, and see the wonders that will be performed. Another thing is, pick out the good things in life & learn from the bad, but NEVER give up.

Go on girls! Aunty Lola says: DONT GIVE UP!!

On a final note, please permit me to ask this very personal question. Although, I think I already know the answer, but this interview won’t be complete if I don’t, especially for the rooks and bishops of the men’s section.

Is there any KING (I don’t mean God of course) in your life? One that you are willing to sacrifice material for (say a rook, may be pawns, your double bishop, your knight, or even your queen), just to keep!

Lola: THERE IS DEFINITELY A KING.

Thanks for sharing your time with us! We wish you success in your endeavours.

Lola: Thanks!