The highly-anticipated Inter-Schools Chess Challenge that continuously enhances the participation of young Nigerians (young teens and kids) in intellectual board games like Chess, was successfully organized by Dinamico Consulting on the 23rd of September, 2023 to mark its 10th anniversary at the prestigious Christ Event Center in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria with a large number of active participation which includes teachers, parents, devoted chess enthusiasts to mention a few.
And just like the title implies, the tension in the air was palpable at the event of the challenge organized between various schools with best of their students who had been eager to unleash their various skills and strategies on their opponents.
From the notes taken, there were a total of 35 participants in the tournament that was categorized in two age groups: Age 8 to 12, and Age 13 to 17.
Interestingly, after the tension of the challenge finally came to an end, the two 1st position winners in both age categories emerged from the same school: In the Age 8 to 12 category, Dede Oluwaseun, a 12 year old SS1 student from College 360, Oba Ile housing Estate Akure, Ondo State, emerged as the winner with 5.5 points with no rival scoring up to him, hence it wasn’t difficult figuring out who has the first position at the end of the game. Dede Oluwaseun who claimed the Winner’s Trophy, was awarded a Gold medal, and a cheque of N20,000 for winning the Age 8 to 12 category.
Moreso, in the Age 13 to 17 category, A tie for 1st place occurred between Akintunde Boluwatife, age 14 in SS1 from the same school, College 360, Oba Ile housing Estate Akure, Ondo State, and Alao Emmanuel, age 15 in SS3 of Emplace College, Akure, Ondo State both with 5.0 points. Akintunde Boluwatife narrowly won the tiebreaker.
In short, Akintunde Boluwatife received the Winner’s Trophy, a Gold medal, and a cheque of N25,000 for winning the Age 13-17 category.
The 2nd position in age 8 to 12 category also emerged from College 360, Oba Ile housing Estate, Akure, Ondo State by Olagundoye Israel, age 10 in JSS2 with 5.0 points. The third-place winner was determined by a tiebreaker among four participants (Isabella Sile, David Okeogwa, Dafiaghor Dafenone and Owoeye Oluwatimilehin, all with 4.0 points). However, Dafiaghor Dafenone, age 9 in year 5 of Preston International Nursery and Primary School, Akure, Ondo State emerged the third place winner. The 1st and 2nd Runners-Up in the Age 8 to 12 category were awarded Silver and Bronze medals, and all 21 participants in the category received Certificates of Recognition.
Furthermore, in the Age 13 to 17 category, Ajileye Ajibola, age 15 in SS3 of Emplace College, Akure, Ondo State finished in third place with 4.0 points and the 1st and 2nd Runners-Up in the Age 13 to 17 category were also awarded Silver and Bronze medals, and all 14 participants in the category received Certificates of Recognition.
Additionally, In the tournament, a time control of 15+0 was utilized for each round of the game. The competition commenced with initial pairings and after each round, participants accumulated points based on their performance, shaping their rankings in the event. Subsequent rounds matched competitors with comparable scores. The system strived to prevent repeated matchups. After six demanding rounds employing the Swiss pairing format, the ultimate standings that determined the emerging winners is as follows:
In conclusion, it was announced that the Next Edition of the Inter-Schools Chess Challenge to anticipate is scheduled for March 2024, and the Registration will be commencing on the 15th of October, 2023.
