41st Chess Olympiads, ROUND FIVE PAIRINGS FOR NIGERIA

After Fighting gallantly but losing out in Round four to Brazil and Bolivia (male and female team respectively) of the 41st Olympiads team Nigeria (male) has been paired in round five of the ongoing tournament against INTERNATIONAL PHYSICALLY DISABLED CHESS ASSOCIATION ( IPCA)  a very dangerous team if underrated. the IPCA has an average rating  2265 as against Team Nigeria's(male) 2206  The  female team  is paired against Pakistan with an average rating of 1000 ELO. It is interesting to note that Team Nigeria's  male team ranking after round four is 107 which is the teams' starting ranking it is believed that the team is capable of beating the IPCA a team the Nigerian team has met in the past at the Olympiads and has proved dangerous if underrated , the IPCA has on their team three International masters two of which are rated far above 2300 ELO and one FIDE master, both teams met at the last Olympiads.

94. IPCA (IPCA / RtgAvg:2265 / TB1: 4 / TB2: 12) Captain: PILIMON Zbigniew
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Pts.	Games
1	IM	Obodchuk Andrei	2372	RUS	2.5	4.0
2	IM	Yarmonov Igor	2329	UKR	1.5	3.0
3		Bernardi Ruben	2114	ITA	1.5	4.0
4	IM	Vodyasov Evgeny	2226	RUS	2.0	3.0
5	FM	Valenta Vit	2132	CZE	1.0	2.0

at the 40th edition of the Olympiads in Istanbul Turkey  Nigeria  had a  two all draw (2-2)with the IPCA in round 11 of the tournament.,

Bo.	107	Nigeria (NGR)	Rtg	-	94	IPCA (IPCA)	Rtg	0 : 0
85.1	IM	Olape, Bunmi	2273	-	IM	Obodchuk, Andrei	2372
85.2	CM	Kigigha, Bomo	2197	-	IM	Yarmonov, Igor	2329
85.3	CM	Balogun, Oluwafemi	2187	-	IM	Vodyasov, Evgeny	2226
85.4		Akinseye, Abiola	2156	-	FM	Valenta, Vit	2132

Taking a look at the Board  pairing the IPCA is rolling out their best hands against the Nigerian Male team, fielding three International masters on board one to three and an FM on board four, Nigeria will have to be at their best to win this match which is very achievable from the good fighting spirit they have exhibited so far in the tourney.
BOARD PAIRINGS (FEMALE)

Bo.	132	Pakistan (PAK)	Rtg	-	120	Nigeria (NGR)	Rtg	0 : 0
52.1		Urooj, Saeed	0	-	WFM	Olatunji, Oluwatobiloba	1860
52.2		Begum, Ghazala	0	-		Enarevba, Mandy	0
52.3		Maryam,	0	-		Rabiu, Olabisi	0
52.4		Nameeqa, Ul Ummi	0	-		Aramude, Sandra	0

The female team who was a bit disappointing in the round four match against Bolivia is expected to go all out against Pakistan and nothing less than a 4-0 victory is expected from the Nigerian ladies.

BRING BACK OUR GIRLS: Are our girls being trained as terrorists?

Recent reports seems to suggest that some of the girls kidnapped in Chibok  months ago are being brainwashed and trained as suicide bombers, a post on the internet that seeks to make a comparison between the picture of one of the Chibok girls and an alleged picture of a teenage suicide Bomber who blew her self up recently in the northern part of Nigeria. on a close look there seems to be a striking resemblance between the two pictures, take a look  and compare the lips, the cheek bone , the fore head and also the eyes. this is worrisome as there has been at least three reported incidence of  teenage girls been involved in suicide bombing recently including the attack on a young female suicide bomber blew.herself up at a noticeboard on the campus of the Kano Polytechnic College, where students had crowded round to check their assignments for a mandatory youth civil service programme.

question-  are "our girls being brainwashed, forced into terrorism?? 

41st Chess Olympiads ROUND FOUR PAIRINGS FOR NIGERIA

The pairings for  round four of  the Chess Olympiads is out and  the Male team after a wonderful display of skill and strength against New Zealand , Nigeria (male) is paired again against a Grand master "infested" team , Brazil with an average rating of ELO 2593 as against 2206 signalling another very tough test for the gallant team Nigeria male team. The Female team is paired against Bolivia    here is a quick preview of  the match ahead
OPEN CATEGORY(Male)

After a brilliant display by team Nigeria (male) against a higher rated NewZealand side , Nigeria faces a much higher opposition , The morale in the Nigerian camp is very high following the team's gallant display yesterday and with the arrival of Abiola Akinseye who has not been  able to get to camp due to travel delays the Nigerian team is now complete and ready to fight the battle of their lives.

The Brazilian side is composed of Five Grand masters and it will require an upset for team Nigeria to prevail against the Samba Grand masters  but impossible is nothing and Nigerians back home are hoping for another gallant display as even the "god king" can bleed !! 

Bo.	107	Nigeria (NGR)	Rtg	-	30	Brazil (BRA)	Rtg	0 : 0
21.1	IM	Olape, Bunmi	2273	-	GM	Leitao, Rafael	2649
21.2	CM	Kigigha, Bomo	2197	-	GM	Fier, Alexandr	2570
21.3	CM	Balogun, Oluwafemi	2187	-	GM	Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag	2568
21.4		Akinseye, Abiola	2156	-	GM	Milos, Gilberto	2583

FEMALE CATEGORY

The Female team after an heroic 4-0 Mauling of Netherlands Antilles  (AHO) the team remains in high spirit and motivated to tackle a stronger Bolivian side with two Women international masters and all their  players are FIDE rated , however the Nigerians will be aiming towards an upset against the Bolivians as they are now motivated and fired up by the victory they earned in their third round match.

Bo.	120	Nigeria (NGR)	Rtg	-	71	Bolivia (BOL)	Rtg	0 : 0
47.1	WFM	Olatunji, Oluwatobiloba	1860	-	WIM	Cordero, Daniela	2010
47.2		Enarevba, Mandy	0	-	WIM	Estrada, Lucia	1974
47.3		Rabiu, Olabisi	0	-		Prado, Alexandra	1831
47.4		Aramude, Sandra	0	-		Coro, Soledad	1839

41st Chess Olympiads ROUND THREE PAIRINGS FOR NIGERIA

The pairings of  round three of the the Chess Olympiads is out and  The Male team shall be facing Team New Zealand while the Female team is paired against Netherlands Antilles in the third round.  here is a quick preview of  the match ahead
OPEN CATEGORY(Male)
After a good outing against Togo which ended 4-0 in favor of the Nigerian male team , the Nigerian players are in high spirit as they are paired against New Zealand in the Open section .
 The new Zealand team is composed of three strong International masters and two equally strong Fide Masters and the team has an average rating of 2363 and ranked number 63 on the starting ranking.

63. New Zealand (NZL / RtgAvg:2363, Captain: BENNETT Hilton / TB1: 2 / TB2: 4
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	1	2	3	Pts.	Games	RtgAvg
1	IM	Wang Puchen	2449	NZL	1	½		1.5	2	2345
2	IM	Dive Russell John	2318	NZL	1	0		1.0	2	1788
3	FM	Li Zuhao Luke	2365	NZL		½		0.5	1	2640
4	IM	Ker Anthony F	2316	NZL	1	0		1.0	2	2215
5	FM	Hague Ben	2320	NZL	1			1.0	1	1000

The New Zealand team showed how dangerous they could be when they were confronted by a very strong polish side that fielded four Grand masters with an average rating of ELO 2662, IM Wang, Puchen 2449 drew with GM Gajewski, Grzegorz 2659(Poland) on board one  while FM Li, Zuhao Luke 2365 pulled a draw with GM Bartel, Mateusz 2640(Poland) on Board three .

 Team Nigeria ranked 107 on the starting ranking with an average rating of 2206 will have to be at its very best if they hope to defeat this New Zealand team  and this serves as an acid test for the strength of the Nigerians who now have a complete squad with the arrival of Abiola Akinseye who was delayed in transit due to flight issues.

Bo.	76	New Zealand (NZL)	Rtg	-	107	Nigeria (NGR)	Rtg	0 : 0
37.1	IM	Wang, Puchen	2449	-	IM	Olape, Bunmi	2273
37.2	IM	Dive, Russell John	2318	-	CM	Kigigha, Bomo	2197
37.3	FM	Li, Zuhao Luke	2365	-	FM	Ajibowo, Olamide Patrick	2168
37.4	FM	Hague, Ben	2320	-	CM	Balogun, Oluwafemi	2187

FEMALE CATEGORY

The Female team is up against  Netherlands Antilles (AHO with an average rating of 1609. with the arrival of Rabiu Olabisi and Aramude Sandra ,( the last two members of team Nigeria female team) to camp the team is set to improve on its performance so far in the tournament with a complete squad.

Bo.	107	Netherlands Antilles (AHO)	Rtg	-	120	Nigeria (NGR)	Rtg	0 : 0
53.1	WFM	Diaz, Maria M.A.	2029	-	WFM	Olatunji, Oluwatobiloba	1860
53.2		Salim-Moussa, Arzy Zahia	0	-		Enarevba, Mandy	0
53.3		Mena, Ailen Oriana	1681	-		Rabiu, Olabisi	0
53.4	WCM	Salim-Moussa, Seydi	1724	-		Aramude, Sandra	0

Travel Hitches delay Nigerian Chess players Abiola and Rabiu and Aramude sandra in Norway

Team Nigeria (Chess) yesterday played their first round game at the ongoing Chess Olympiads with the Male and Female team pitted against much stronger opponents Georgia and Mexico respectively without the presence of three prominent team members. Rabiu Olabisi (Female players) and Abiola Akinseye (Male Player)  , The Nigerian Chess federation president and some other officials have not been able to connect a flight from Oslo  to Tromso Norway where the 2014 chess Olympiads is taking place. The officials are however making frantic efforts to ensure that the rest of the Nigerian contingent arrive Tromso to join the others as soon as possible, but due to the strain of organizing a huge event such as the Olympiads which is the world's 4th largest event on the transport system, all flights were already booked and they will not be able to get to Tromso until Sunday the 2nd day of August.

       The arrival of Abiola Akinseye and Bisi Rabiu on Monday will definitely add more depth to the team.  The Nigerian Contingent are not alone in having problems with flight issues, a Top American Grandmaster Hikairu Nakamura will not be arriving Tromso till around the same time forcing the American team to do without him for the first three rounds.

   Team Nigeria remains in high spirit that they will fare well in this edition of the Olympiads as the Male and female team faces Togo and Qatar respectively.

Chess Olympiads ROUND ONE PAIRINGS FOR NIGERIA

                 

  Ladies and Gentle men, The pairings of the round one of the 4th Largest sporting event in the World is out at the Chess Olympiads and as expected Nigeria male and female team have a uphill task facing tough opposition. The Male team shall be facing Team Georgia while the Female team is paired against Mexico in the first round. here is a quick preview of  the match ahead.
OPEN CATEGORY(Male)
The Nigerian male team having a starting rank of 107 and with an average rating of 2203 is facing a Georgian team ranked 21st and with an average rating of 2619 an all grand master team !!Team Nigeria (male) is paired against Georgia, a team led by Super Grand master Jobava Baadur a player who defeated GM Magnus Carlsen (World number one player ) at the last edition of the Olympiads.all other players on team Georgia are GMs. meanwhile the ladies are up against the Mexican team and i strongly believe the ladies will console Nigeria just in case the male team does not succeed in staging the big upset we all want against the Georgians. 

Board pairings (Open category)
.1 IM Olape, Bunmi 2273 Vs GM Jobava, Baadur 2713
2 CM Kigigha, Bomo 2197 Vs GM Mchedlishvili, Mikheil 2618
3 FM Ajibowo, Olamide Patrick 2168 Vs GM Pantsulaia, Levan 2581
.4 CM Balogun, Oluwafemi 2187 Vs GM Nigalidze, Gaioz 2542

Team-Composition 

21. Georgia (GEO / RtgAvg:2619 / TB1: 0 / TB2: 0) Captain: PAICHADZE Luka
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Games
1	GM	Jobava Baadur	2713	GEO	0.0
2	GM	Mchedlishvili Mikheil	2618	GEO	0.0
3	GM	Pantsulaia Levan	2581	GEO	0.0
4	GM	Nigalidze Gaioz	2542	GEO	0.0
5	GM	Shanava Konstantine	2563	GEO	0.0

                                                                   VS

107. Nigeria (NGR / RtgAvg:2206 / TB1: 0 / TB2: 0) Captain: AGBONKHESE Peter Ojon
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Games
1	IM	Olape Bunmi	2273	NGR	0.0
2	CM	Kigigha Bomo	2197	NGR	0.0
3	FM	Ajibowo Olamide Patrick	2168	NGR	0.0
4	CM	Balogun Oluwafemi	2187	NGR	0.0
5		Akinseye Abiola	2156	NGR	0.0

Female Category

The Nigerian Female team with a starting rank of 120 and an average rating of 1215 is up against a Mexican side ranked 53rd and with an average rating of  2061.

.1WFM Olatunji, Oluwatobiloba 1860  Vs WIM Garcia Morales, Ivette 2113 
.2 Coker, Omolabake 0 Vs. WIM Real Pereyra, Diana Carime 2061 
3 Enarevba, Mandy 0 Vs. WCM Duran Juarez, Citlali 1982 
.4 Rabiu, Olabisi 0 Vs. Roque Sola, Gisela 1882

Team-Composition without round-results

120. Nigeria (NGR / RtgAvg:1215 / TB1: 0 / TB2: 0) Captain: GANIYU-OPOLO Bidemi
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Games
1	WFM	Olatunji Oluwatobiloba	1860	NGR	0.0
2		Coker Omolabake	0	NGR	0.0
3		Enarevba Mandy	0	NGR	0.0
4		Rabiu Olabisi	0	NGR	0.0
5		Aramude Sandra	0	NGR	0.0

                                                                          VS 

53. Mexico (MEX / RtgAvg:2061 / TB1: 0 / TB2: 0) Captain: Macieja Bartlomiej
Bo.		Name	Rtg	FED	Games
1	WIM	Garcia Morales Ivette	2113	MEX	0.0
2	WIM	Guerrero Rodriguez Alejandra	2089	MEX	0.0
3	WIM	Real Pereyra Diana Carime	2061	MEX	0.0
4	WCM	Duran Juarez Citlali	1982	MEX	0.0
5		Roque Sola Gisela	1882	MEX	0.0

What do you think will happen in these games, can you predict the results? comments please.

Top African teams at the 2014 world chess olympiads

Here is a quick look at the top African teams at the 2014 Chess Olympiads in order of ranking.

1.(38)   Egypt    (2547)
The Egyptian chess team is the strongest team from Africa fielding three Grand masters (
technically four GMs as Sammy Shoker will be awarded the GM title having fulfilled all three Grand Master Norms) The Egyptian team's average rating 2547 is by far the highest in among teams from the continent of Africa. the team is ranked 38th in the world.
1 GM Amin Bassem 2627
2 IM Shoker Samy 2487
3 IM Ezat Mohamed 2466
4 GM Adly Ahmed 2589
5 GM El Gindy Essam 2486

2 (76). Morocco  (2362)
The Moroccan chess team has a starting rank of 76 making them second in Africa, the team consists of four International masters  with an average team rating of 2362 ELO

1 IM Ali Sebbar 2387
2 Choukri Adel 2177
3 IM Hifad Rachid 2311
4 IM Tissir Mohamed 2366
5 IM Onkoud Abdelaziz 2383 \

3.(78) South Africa (2350)
Grand master -Elect  Solomon Kenny leads a strong and experienced team to the 41st Olympiads, Solomon kenny will also be hoping to rekindle the form that earned him a double Grandmaster norm two years ago at the last Olympiads, but this time he will be making an effort towards increasing his rating towards the ELO 2500 mark.South African team  is rated 78th on the starting rank with an average rating of 2350
1 IM Solomon Kenny 2378
2 IM Steel Henry Robert 2399
3 IM Kobese Watu 2333
4 FM Van Den Heever Donovan 2289 ith the likes of
5 IM Gluckman David 2236

4.(88) Tunisia (2294)
Tunisia's starting rank is 88 and number 4 among African teams, the team has an average rating of 2294 with three FIDE masters and a Candidate master.

1 FM Zaibi Amir 2297
2 FM Amdouni Zoubaier 2350
3 FM Boudriga Med Ali 2282
4 Bouzidi Ahmed 2231
5 CM Bouaziz Mehdi 2246

5.(89) Zambia (2291)
Zambia has a starting rank of  89 , 5th in Africa and an average rating of  2291.
1 IM Chumfwa Stanley 2317
2 IM Mwali Chitumbo 2250
3 FM Phiri Richmond 2121
4 CM Chumfwa Kelvin 2193
5 IM Jere Daniel 2405


6.(91) Algeria (2286)
The Algerians are led by Grand master  Haddouche Mohamed , the team is 91st on the starting rank and 6th among African countries with an average ELO rating of 2286
1 GM Haddouche Mohamed 2508
2 FM Bengherabi Khalil 2170
3 IM Belouadah Saad 2320
4 Seddaoui Yamine 2105
5 IM Nassr Ali 2145

7 (92).Uganda (2285)
Team Uganda led by the young and talented International Master Emojong Elijah  can face and upset  teams comprised of Grand masters, with Elijah looking for GM Norms himself . The team is ranked 92nd on the starting list and 7th among teams from Africa
1 IM Emojong Elijah 2334
2 FM Wanyama Harold 2244
3 Ssonko Mathias Allan 2138
4 CM Kawuma Patrick 2261
5 Ssegwanyi Arthur 2299

8.(101) Angola (2233)
1 FM Domingos Catarino 2280
2 FM Pascoal Eduardo A 2181
3 CM Simoes Joao 2245
4 IM Agnelo Amorim 2225
5 FM Aguiar Cristiano 1993

9 (102) Libya (2223)
1 FM Gator Mosab 2166
2 CM Al Sori Mohamed 1984
3 FM Elarbi Abobker 2283
4 FM Chahrani Ibrahim 2239
5 FM Asabri Hussien 2202

10.(107)Nigeria (2206)
Team Nigeria's starting rank is 107 and 10th among African teams with an average rating of 2206 , The team is led by International Master Olape  and it is hoped that the team will finish far above its starting rank.

1 IM Olape Bunmi 2273

2 CM Kigigha Bomo 2197

3 FM Ajibowo Olamide Patrick 2168

4 CM Balogun Oluwafemi 2187

5 Akinseye Abiola 2156

11.(111) Botswana (2189)
1 CM Gaealafshwe Barileng 2222
2 FM Njobvu Ignatius 2193
3 FM Khetho Phemelo 2195
4 CM Olebile Thato 2144
5 Notha Moakofi 2070

12 (112) Mozambique 2169 1 FM Alice Mateus Felizardo Viageiro 2121 2 FM Mucongoma Miguel Jose Maconi 2194 3 Calicoca Wilton Inacio 2218 4 Maia Mariano Tesoura De 2141 5 CM Abrantes Persson 1986

13. (114)Madagasca 2153
1 IM Ranaivoharisoa Alain 2183
2 CM Rajaonarison Faniry 2112
3 CM Rakotomaharo Fy Antenaina 2253
4 Rakotoniaina Antsiva 2014
5 CM Ramasindraibe Girard 2065

14 (115) Sudan 2138
1 CM Nadir Samir 2141
2 FM Yaaqoub Rashid 2164
3 CM Ahmed Holi Ali Moawia 2067
4 Abdel Wahab Elkhatem 2093
5 Ahmed Abuzied 2154

15 (117) Namibia 2117
1 FM Mueller Leonhard 2183
2 CM Eichab Charles 2048
3 Nitzborn Max Baron 0
4 CM Handjaba Mclean 2139
5 Oberholzer Rex 2099