The highly anticipated “Chess Week with Coach Obinna” event has come to a close, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of all who participated. Organized by the unrelenting Coach Obinna and the General manager of Landmark, the event took place at the Landmark Boulevard in Lagos, Nigeria, from July 15th to July 20th, 2024.
The week-long activities kicked off with a bang on Monday, July 15th; a conference themed “Chess as an Emerging Industry: Unlocking its Potential for Societal Transformation” held with notable individuals like Mrs B.A Agbakoba-Onyejianya, Coach Obinna Ogbonnaya, Mr Joachim Idada CEO FIJI Chess club and pioneer Chess in schools in Nigeria, Mrs Lauretta Iyasele, and Prince (Mr) Adewole Adeyinka Vice President Nigeria Chess Federation NCF in attendance. The conference held explored the chess ecosystem’s components and its potential to drive positive change in society. The chess industry can impact cognitive development, social skills, inclusivity, economic growth, and education, ultimately transforming lives and communities.
Furthermore, the event featured a diverse range of activities including Chess Arbiters Workshop on Wednesday, Movie nights, friendly chess games, Karaoke on Friday evening, networking opportunities, and coaching sessions for individuals eager to learn the art of chess. The event featured an Art exhibition, a FIDE-rated Open and Blitz chess tournament in the grand finale on July 20th, and a simultaneous exhibition by IM Balogun Oluwafemi.
As the event progressed, the excitement created a sensation.
On Thursday, 18th July, a movie night was organized; “Searching for Bobby Fischer“, which saw young children participate enthusiastically. The movie “Queen of Katwe” was also screened on the following day, adding to the excitement.
One of the highlights of the event was the coaching session for the kids on Friday morning, July 19th. The youngsters were not only taught the basics of chess but also made lasting memories with their peers.
The tournament, which took place in the Auditorium at Landmark Boulevard Centre, saw registered players like Daniel Anwuli, Samson Ofubu, and Momoh Daniel, Akintoye Toyin compete fiercely against each other. Notable individuals like Alhaja Amisu Hikmot, President of the Nigeria Chess Arbiters Association, Vice President of the Nigerian Chess Federation, Prince (Mr) Adewole Adeyinka and Mr. Babatunde Ogunsiku were also present.
At the end of the tournament, in the Open section, Ekpo Ndopnse emerged first, Cole Michael Christopher came second, Samson Ofubu took the third position. The likes of Nwanze Esther, Williams Anita and Alhaja Amisu A.H were awarded the best female prizes for taking part in he event. The winners, as well as other players like Afolabi Emmanuel, Babatunde Ogunsiku and Akinsipe Toluwalase were also rewarded cash prizes.
View final rank via Chess results
The event’s primary goal was to celebrate FIDE’s 100th year, and it did so with style and grace. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, with everyone having a great time playing against each other. “The Chess Week event is the result of years of planning,” said IA Obinna Ogbonnaya. “In chess, the White has always had an advantage, making Black play catch-up. But I believe being Black doesn’t make us weaker. Chess is a game of intelligence, and black players can be just as smart and skilled. We want to change the way people think about this and show that black players can be just as good. And by “black”, I mean Nigerians especially, since Nigerians are representatives of the blacks, and that is why we created the Chess Week event.”
IA Obinna Ogbonnaya who also happened to be a coach, in collaboration with the Landmark Manager, hosted the Chess Week because of his firm belief in the potential of chess to bring people together. The event focused on three core values: Chess, Connection and Community. He emphasized the importance of creating a dynamic community where people can meet, learn from each other, and grow. The event achieved this by teaching many new people how to play chess and demonstrating how chess can improve cognitive skills and teamwork.
‘Chess Week with Coach Obinna’ was a resounding success, with participants leaving with new skills, knowledge, and connections. The event was sponsored by Page, Gift of Chess, Knights 4 Tomorrow, Coach Obinna Ogbonnaya, FIDE, Dynamic Chess Ville, and a wonderful individual who preferred to stay anonymous.
The event’s impact will be felt long after the closing ceremony, as it has inspired a new generation of chess enthusiasts and strengthened the bonds within the chess community. As Coach Obinna stated, “This event should be organized almost every year.” We couldn’t agree more. The Chess Week with Coach Obinna has set a high standard for future events, and we eagerly await the next installment.
