Interview with IM Bunmi Olape Nigeria’s Top Chess player
By Akinleye Akinseye (Akinov)
He is currently the Highest rated Chess Player in Nigeria, incidentally the Current National chess Champion …….Bunmi Olape got his International Master Title this year , (2011) won an individual Gold medal @ The All African Games (2011) at Maputo and was the only player to defeat The Egyptian Grand master GM Ahmed Adly… at the Blitz event
Hello Bunmi Thank you for accepting the interview, after your brilliant win at the Nigeria National chess championship (sponsored by Nigerian Breweries PLC)
AKINSEYE- Can you tell us a bit more about yourself?
BUNMI - I am Olape Olubunmi, popularly known in the chess circle as 'undertaker', I am the current Chess National Champion of Nigeria, started playing chess in 1991 while i was in secondary school.
AKINSEYE - What got you attracted to chess, how did you start playing chess?
BUNMI - I was attracted by the shape of the chess pieces and fascinated by the peculiar movement of each piece on the chess board. My elder brother brought chess to the family but did not teach me how to play the game, i learnt by watching because am a very inquisitive person and will go to any length to seek for knowledge for something I am passionate about.
AkISEYE -Please tell us a bit more about your “chess history” ?
BUNMI - The secondary school games in 1991 was d event that actually spurred me on to get myself involved in chess, i was able to win Gold at the event for Lagos state, it was unique to me because it was the year i learnt the game of chess, after the event i participated in some nationally rated chess tournaments between 1991-1992 at the under-age group section, in 1993 I moved to d Opens section and won most tournaments i participated in across the country from 1993-1995, then we had several tournaments to attend, which i must confess helped my growth in chess. I moved to the Masters section in 1995 and almost became the national champion on my first appearance at the masters’ section !! but eventually came joint 2nd position., Same year, i won the Mobil chess tournament in Eket and indeed won several laurels btw 1995-1998 ! In 1998 i played my 1st FIDE rated event at d then NEPA international opens tournament, came joint 2nd and got my debut FIDE-ELO from the tournament. 1998 is also d year i represented Nigeria outside the shores of my country at d chess olympiad in Elista, Kalymykia republic of Russia.
AKINSEYE- How did you get to the top in Nigerian Chess, did you play in the
lower categories?
BUNMI - I went thru the due process to get to the top !! From the under-age to the opens and from opens to masters.
AKINSEYE- You recently got the revered International Master Title, can you please
tell us about your entire quest to get the title, the challenges you
faced and how you overcame them?
BUNMI -The major challenge i faced was getting sponsorship, i had to combine sourcing for sponsorship with my training schedule, i had to multi-task myself to get a shot at my goal of getting d enviable IM title at d zone 4.2. Chess championship in Khartourm, Sudan.
AKINSEYE- Which countries did you visit?
BUNMI- I have visited the following countries, Russia, Belgium,Switzerland,Slovenia,Spain,Italy,Germany,Hungary,Togo,Ghana,Cote'Ivoire,Sudan,Mozambique.
AKINSEYE-Getting your last International Master Norm was surely a major chess
breakthrough for you, would you like to tell us about the tournaments,
and how you got each Norm?
BUNMI- For Zonal Chess championship, i did not have to go thru d process of getting 3 norms to get IM title, u're only required to score a certain number of points/percentage to get d title.
AKINSEYE - What is your current FIDE rating and going by your present form and
status , one would have expected that you will get sponsorship fund
for international FIDE sanctioned tournaments (EG London chess
classics December 2011) now that you are hot and can take a shot at
the Chess Grand Master Norm.?
BUNMI- My current FIDE ELO is 2290.I have been faced with this sponsorship drive question on several occasion even b4 i attained my present status, i won't say is difficult n won't say is not difficult in getting sponsorship in this part of d world cos i feel is an aspect that i have not quite exploited, nevertheless i did made some few attempt on my own but is either am faced with no response or slow response n this can be really frustrating if u know what i mean coupled with d fact dt u have to combine this with my training schedule, anyway am not given up on sponsorship, most especially in my quest for d enviable Grandmaster title !!
AKINSEYE- you will agree with me that a very talented player like you sure
needs endorsement and sponsorship from companies and Corporate bodies
to speed up the possibility of getting the first Nigerian GM , there
is need for sponsorship of Talented players like you to International
Chess tournaments.
BUNMI - You are very correct, doing it on my own is very difficult, on few occasions dt i had to sponsor myself to tournaments in Europe, i always lack some basic necessity required of a professional chess player, which affects my concentration at such events, d simple basic needs that most participant had. Endorsement and sponsorship from companies and corporate bodies will definitely speed up d process for me in getting the enviable Grandmaster title.
AKINSEYE- What makes you stand out from other Nigerian chess players? BUNMI-My style n personality!!
AKINSEYE How do you prepare for chess tournaments (Choice of opening/
training)? Someone once told me that “Bunmi Olape does not read chess
books or rely on conventional chess theory” how true is that?
BUNMI-I have some opening repertoire which have been quite reliable over d years. I go thru games a lot n try my best to fault some moves being played by GM's n i test- runs some lines on some players that i do play with most at home n occasionally try it also with d computers ! I have never in totality relied on theoretical books, i try to visualize d position on board ala undertaker style! But now, am beginning to see d need for theoretical books to enhance my strength if i have to make a go at GM title.
AKINSEYE- Do you read chess books? If you do, which chess book have you learnt the most?
BUNMI -I do but try to avoid d theoretical ones because of its complexity by some authors. I have read Chess University and also a book of life and games of Tal, can't remember d author of those books, i have also glanced at several books and read a lot of chess magazines.
AKINSEYE- How often do you practice chess/train?
BUNMI- Now i really don't have a program schedule but i play a lot.
AKINSEYE- How often do you analyze your own games?
BUNMI- I do after and in d course every chess tournament i attend, win or lose !
AKINSEYE-How many moves can you calculate ahead?
BUNMI- Depends on d position
AKINSEYE-What kind of Music do you listen to?
BUNMI- I listen to all genre of music, if it sounds good to my ear but i can be particular about instrumentals.
AKINSEYE -What is your favourite leisure activities, aside chess?-
BUNMI Watching football and traveling
AKINSEYE- In Which tournaments have you represented Nigeria?
BUNMI- NEPA international( FIDE section),Lagos Nigeria, 1998, Chess Olympiads in Russia, 1998, Slovenia, 2002,Spain, 2004, Italy, 2006,Russia 2010, African games Nigeria, 2003, Algeria 2007,Mozambique 2011 etc.
AKINSEYE- What can you say about chess in Nigeria; then, when you started, and now?
BUNMI-In d early 90's and even towards d ending of d 90's chess in Nigeria had several tournaments but went totally on d decline afterwards, this year is experiencing an upsurge considering d number of tournaments we have had this year with a renewed interest from sponsors. I feel with this new found revolutionary trend in Chess in Nigeria, d sky will be the limit!!
AKINSEYE- What about your most memorable chess moments?
BUNMI- I have had several memorable moments in Chess but my achievement this year as been most memorable of all the years, So far this year, I got an international master title, won Gold medal at d African games, Won d National Championship, Am d current highest rated Nigeria on d World chess federation rating list n still counting........
AKINSEYE- How does it feel like becoming the National chess champion finally?
BUNMI- -Is been a great year for me in Chess, becoming d National Champion is great after several attempts at d title, am happy have finally achieved it.
AKINSEYE- Are you now thinking of becoming a Grand Master (GM) of chess that is
getting the GM title?
BUNMI- Getting d GM title is definitely d next step of any aspiring international Master, I have plans, am hoping i get d right sponsorship to actualize my dream of getting d enviable title.
AKINSEYE- What advice do you have for upcoming Nigerian chess players?
BUNMI-They should be steadfast, be patient and don't get discouraged.
Whom do you regard as being the best five active chess players in Nigeria today? R- Bunmi Olape(Myself), Bayo Adegboyega, Adu Dapo,Aikhoje Odion,Bomo Kigigha
AKINSEYE- What do you have to say about your match with International master
Dapo Adu and the need for frequent chess matches between our top
players?
BUNMI
- We had a nice time even though we did not get d sponsorship we required to make it a big event and a media captivating one.
Ok, enough questions for now and on the behalf of the Akinov
chess/Naijahood.com I would like to thank you for answering all these
questions!
Thank you!.
