Team Nigeria strengthened its campaign at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand after both the Open and Women’s teams moved to six match points following encouraging performances in Round Five of the competition.
The men’s team bounced back from an earlier defeat to Cuba with a convincing 3½-½ victory over Malawi, while the women’s team battled to a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic.
Nigeria’s Open team began with Bomo Lovet Kigigha sharing the point with Joseph Mwale on Board One. Abdulrahman Akintoye Abdulraheem then gave Nigeria the advantage with a victory on Board Two before International Master Odion Aikhoje extended the lead on Board Three.
Fifteen-year-old Odey Goodness Ekunke completed the dominant outing by winning his Board Four game to seal the emphatic victory for Nigeria.
Ekunke continued his impressive debut at the Olympiad and has now recorded 3½ points from five games, matching Aikhoje’s tally. Abdulraheem has earned 2½ points, while Kigigha has accumulated two points after five rounds.
The women’s team also produced a resilient display against the Czech Republic. Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen lost her opening game to Joanna Worek before Michelle Chiamaka Nwankwo restored parity with a victory over Anna Lhotska.
Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi later fell to Lucie Rybackova, but Bridget Michael defeated Tereza Rodshtein to ensure Nigeria secured a valuable 2-2 draw.
Nwankwo remains one of Nigeria’s standout performers in Samarkand with 4½ points from five games. Omoruyi has collected three points, while Quickpen has two points.
With both teams now on six match points, attention shifts to Round Six, where the Open team will face Vietnam while the women’s team takes on Austria in another crucial round.
The National Sports Commission praised the teams for their determination and urged them to maintain the momentum as the competition enters a decisive stage.
The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad has brought together leading chess nations from across the world, giving Nigeria another opportunity to showcase its growing strength in the game. Strong performances at the tournament are expected to boost the country’s reputation in international chess and inspire more young Nigerians to embrace the sport.
