Former Works Commissioner, Mr. Frank Opigo, has lauded Chess players in Bayelsa state for their efforts in placing the state in Tue world map as far as the game of Chess is concerned.
He came out with this at the closing ceremony of the Esteemed Monthly Chess Championship, held at the Multi Indoor Sports Hall, Samson Siasia Sports Complex, in Yenagoa, at the weekend.
The former cabinet member who was the Special Guest of Honour, recounted his playing days in the 80s and 90s, stressing that only few persons participated in some of the Chess competitions organised both at the National and World level.
While expressing his joy with the wide knowledge and awareness of the game, Mr Opigo urged the Chess players, particularly the young ones, not to loss focus in their bid to become World Champions, adding that on his part, he will give all the necessary support within his oars, to see the game of Chess gets its rightful place, in the state.
Head Coach of the Bayelsa Chess Association, Bomo Kigigha, said the monthly competition which kicked of in July, is geared towards engaging the Chess players regularly, and prepare them for future competitions.
While lauding for the former Works Commissioner for the support of Chess over the years, the three-time National Champion, Bomo Kigigha, added that his vision is to see that more Bayelsans become National Champions, and possibly, raise World and Olympic Champions.
Mr Kigigha also reiterated that the Association was equally holding the weekly competition, alongside the monthly tourney.
The October edition of the Chess Championship, saw forty two participants, (one of the lowest so far), while ten won medals in the junior, opens, female and elites categories.
At the end of the competition, Marvelous Innocent clinched gold in the U-15 Juniors category, Shine Ekperi won silver, while Hector Godswill went home with bronze.
The Opens category saw Glad Yakie winning gold, Bibo Lambert, silver, and
Gift Ekie settled for bronze, whereas in the Female category, Rachael Dappa cruised home with the gold medal
At the Elite category, Inimo Kigigha, who is the elder sibling to the Head Coach, Chess Association, Bomo Kigigha, won gold medal, Bomo kigigha clinched silver, while
Douye Asingbi settled for bronze.
All-time champion of the junior category, Kere Alagoa, who was unanimously allowed to feature in the elite category, scored 5 points out of 9 games and picked a consolation prize.
National Champion and Nigeria’s youngest gold medalist, Deborah Quickpen, narrowly missed out on this month’s event on technical grounds.
In the final rating, Inimo Kigigha garnered 8.5 points to top the chart, Bomo Kigigha got 8.0 points to place second, Glad Yakie finished third with 6.5 points, Douye Asingbi got 6.5 points to place fourth, while Miedo Denenu amassed 6.0 points to rank fifth.
By Patrick Ndubuisi
