Kighiga takes Nigerian Open

World Chess Olympiad debutant, Bomo Kighiga, is the new king of Nigerian chess at list for the next one year, after a hard victory at the just concluded 32nd Nigeria Breweries International Open Chess Championship which was held at the Media Centre of National Stadium in Lagos.

The chess prodigy, who rose through the ranks as National Junior Master up to the Intermediate level and recently into the Masters category, played brilliantly in the 9-round Swiss event during which he over powered defending champion, Adegboyega Adebayo to become the champion for the second time in five years.

Kighiga, who made a promising appearance at the last Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, came back into reckoning in round seven with a valuable win against Adebayo, whom he defeated in a long game Trompowsky attack.

The former champion playing with white pieces had an overwhelming advantage at the opening stage but a faulty gamble in the middle play gave the winner some level of initiative and equal the game till a long end game with Kighiga having the upper hand in minor piece ending.

The new champion with 8 points won for himself the star prize of N140, 000 while Adebayo and Ajibola Olanrewaju are joint second with 7 points.

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Bomo Kighiga playing blitz at Ibis Hotel in Germany during 2008 Chess Olympiad. Photo by Daaim Shabazz.