The event was a 5-round rapid tournament. Comprising of six teams consisting of at least 4 players per team and a total number of 27 participants. The tournament was a memorable one as it became tougher in the proceeding rounds. The players became more comfortable with the setting and the environment. Though it was their first tournament, it was a memorable one.
The arbiter, Konju C. Martins ensured there was decorum in the playing hall and all the players followed all chess rules, as such dispute resolution was at its minimal.
One of the students by name Hakeem Hamadina played superbly from the first round delivering a scholar’s mate within few seconds of game play. It was amazing how the first round turned out. There was a large audience ranging from the lower primary to the upper primary. For the first-round, team A, D and E respectively set out for the title race. After the first two rounds Team A and D continued with the pursuit while team C joined in.
Once again, we had another tough fight during the second round between Yotam Ogaji and Hakeem Hamadina, but the young player was unable to end the streak of Hakeem Hamadina. It was a great day as the tournament was brought to a halt after the final round for the day had ended.
The third-round kicked off with team A, D, C and E set out for the title chase. With a lot of expectations from team A and from the young champ hakeem to put up a good game for his team which happened to be team D. The round has ended and once again Hakeem Hamadina had delivered another glamorous scholar’s mate to against his opponent Joshua. And this time securing his team the top spot at the tournament as their rivals were team A whom they had just rounded up. With team D ahead with three victories can they continue in this stead till the end of the tournament?
Another team showing good great concerns towards the title race is now team C whom had lost the first round to team D and are now showing great tenacity over the board, with an outstanding second and third round victory while team E is relenting. The fourth round ended with team D still up front with an amazing player keeping his winning streak. Team D is sitting at the top with 4 over 4, team C trailing with 3 over 4, team E also with 3 over 4, team A with 2 over 4, team B 1 over 4 and team F with no points secured. The title chase just became tougher. With team C chasing team D with a threadlike gap in between.
The final round ended with Team C putting up a good fight but Team D gave no room for a title slack as they delivered a win in the last round claiming the title.
The tournament had come to an end with team D emerging as the victor. Team D’s player, Hakeem Hamadina finishing as the best male under the male category whilst Nneoma Samuel for Team E and Onyedikachukwu Michelle for Team B tie for best female under the female category.
Nneoma Samuel was also called upon and in her own words, she said, “when you play it helps you to observe- to concentrate and focus and if you learn how to play, you will learn many more things”.
Onyedikachukwu Michelle also contributed on the importance of chess by saying, “When I play chess, it helps me focus more and it helps me know more things whilst we are learning”.
Hakeem Hamadina said, “… when you play chess, you get opened to new abilities…” Hakeem Hamadina went on to explain a core aspect in chess termed, openings and how learning lots of openings can arm one with the knowledge to defeat one’s opponent.
