At the current National Chess Championship in Lekki, Lagos, FM Adebayo Adegboyega, a former National Champion, has a commanding lead.
In the first four rounds, the multiple World Chess Olympiad veteran defeated the trio of International Masters (IM) Olape Bunmi, FM Akinseye Abiola, and Olanrewaju Ajibola.
In their encounter in the second round, the current National Champion, IM Balogun Oluwafemi, was the only one to force him to a draw.
IM Balogun Oluwafemi, FM Akintoye, and Abdulraheem Abdulrahman, who are all just a half-point behind Adebayo, are all in tight pursuit. In the rounds of the championship that have been played so far, neither player (Oluwafemi or Akintoye) has lost a game.
The team of Fide Master Kigigha Bomo and Candidate Master Atabor Job (Wildcard) has yet to win the championship.
Bomo was able to draw with Abdulrahman in their fourth round match, despite the fact that Abdulrahman admitted (post-match) that Bomo appeared to be winning the position.
Ogbiyoyo Perpetual, the current national champion in the women’s division, was defeated in the fourth round by Sampson Peace (Wildcard), who is currently tied for first place in the division with three points.
Agbazue Miracle has yet to score a point in the female division of the competition, although the quartet of Enomah Emmanuella, Suleiman Azumi, Woman Candidate Master Aramude Sandra, and Ofowino Toritsemuwa are only behind by a half-point.
Emmanuel Joy Idara stood out from the crowd to win the Under-20 division of the juniors event (with 5.5/6 points) in the sixth round of the traditional Swiss-Round matches.
IM Okeke Isaac, who came in second place at the competition half a point behind Idara, was just behind him.
With 4.5/6 points, Okemakinde Toluwanimi and Olisa Tennyson tied for third place.
Similar to the U-20 division, there is a clear leader in the Under-14 division when Nwankwo Victor Chibuikem defeated his opponents.
He defeated the incredibly reliable prodigy, Ekunke Goodness, to win the competition with a remarkable 5.5/6 points. Goodness lost his round 2 encounter to the bright and skilled female, Everestus Joy, and came in second place, finishing half a point behind the winner.
Everestus Joy and Li Mo, a Nigerian student from China, were both forced to settle for third place with 4.5/6 points.
A youngster who has been particularly impressive in his division during 2022 was presented in this category.
Evbuomwan Henry Oghogho won the category with a perfect score of 6/6, dominating the competition and displaying class.
Henry outperformed his teammates to win this category, and he would enjoy the accomplishment until the next significant triumph.
After losing to the final category winner, the team of Nwankwo Michelle Chiamaka and Olanrewaju Obaoluwa settled for second place with 5/6 points.
