Nigeria has begun its campaign at the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a 10-player national delegation combining experienced international players with some of the country’s most promising young chess talents.

The prestigious biennial competition officially opened on Tuesday, September 15, with the first round taking place on Wednesday. The tournament runs until September 27 at the Silk Road International Tourist Centre and brings together hundreds of national teams in the Open and Women’s sections.

Nigeria fields 10 players

Nigeria is represented by five players in the Open section and five in the Women’s section.

The men’s team comprises Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, Bomo Kigigha, Ekunke Goodness, Bartholomew Okhipo and Odion Aikhoje. The women’s team features Deborah Quickpen, Michelle Nwankwo, Sandra Omoruyi, Bridget Michael and Joy Iyefu.

The Open team has a significant mix of experience. Bomo Kigigha is set to make his eighth Olympiad appearance, giving the younger members of the squad an experienced campaigner to draw from.

Another player attracting attention is 15-year-old Ekunke Goodness, who is making his debut at the Chess Olympiad after winning the World Rapid Amateur Chess Championship in Abuja in August.

Abdulrahman leads Nigeria’s charge

Nigeria’s number-one player, Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, heads the men’s contingent and has set his sights on producing a strong individual performance in Samarkand.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Abdulraheem said his immediate objective was to play the best chess possible while hoping to compete for a medal in his category. He also expressed confidence in the overall strength of the Nigerian team, pointing to the combination of experienced players and young talents.

His comments reflect the balance within the Nigerian delegation: established players providing experience while teenagers such as Ekunke and Michelle Nwankwo gain exposure at one of the biggest stages in international chess.

Youngsters bring fresh energy

Ekunke’s inclusion is particularly significant. At just 15, he is among the youngest members of Nigeria’s delegation and arrives in Samarkand following an impressive run in Abuja.

His confidence is equally notable. Ahead of the tournament, the teenager said the Nigerian team would aim to perform better than it had previously and avoid poor performances.

On the women’s side, teenage player Michelle Nwankwo is also experiencing the excitement of competing at the Olympiad, while Deborah Quickpen said her preparations had helped strengthen her confidence ahead of the competition.

Nigeria’s opening matches

The Nigerian men opened their campaign against New Caledonia, while the women’s team faced Mali in the first round.

The Olympiad features 11 rounds, giving both Nigerian teams several opportunities to accumulate points and test themselves against players from different chess-playing nations. The tournament’s format also means consistency across the rounds will be important as the competition progresses.

Nigeria’s participation comes as the country’s chess community continues to develop a new generation of players, with recent national competitions providing opportunities for younger competitors to challenge more established names.

A stage for Nigerian chess

For Team Nigeria, the Samarkand Olympiad is more than another international tournament. It provides an opportunity for the country’s players to compete against some of the world’s strongest chess nations while giving emerging talents valuable experience at elite international level.

With veterans such as Kigigha and Aikhoje alongside rising players including Ekunke and Nwankwo, Nigeria’s delegation represents a mixture of experience, ambition and youth.

As the games continue through September 27, attention will be on how far the Nigerian teams can progress and how the country’s individual players perform against international opposition.