Foreign stars for NCF/NB chess tourney

International Masters, Dapo Adu (USA) and Odion Aikhoje (UK) are amongst the foreign-based stars expected at the 34th Nigerian Breweries/Nigerian Chess Federation International Open Chess Championship which will take place at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Lagos from November 7 to 12. Aikhoje is the only Nigerian and third African to win a gold medal at the World Olympiad in 1998. The competition would be played in eight categories namely FIDE, Category I and II, Ladies, U-14 (boys and girls), sports writers and veterans.A total sum of N890, 000 has been earmarked as prize money for the event with the FIDE winner getting N200, 000. Category I and II winners will receive N70, 000 and N50, 000 respectively while the Ladies winner will go home with N65, 000.The U-14 boys and girls category winners will win N20, 000 each while winners in the SWAN and veteran categories get N20, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.NCF President, Sani Mohammed, who was represented by the bodys PRO, Femi Solaja, at a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday, said the long partnership with NB has helped improve the fortunes of the countrys chess players.He said, "Our partnership has yielded fruits as two of our national male players Olamide Ajibowo and Charles Campbell recently joined the ranks of several Nigerian players that have bagged the prestigious FIDE titles following their brilliant performance at last years World Chess Olympiad in Russia."
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