Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) is picking positives from FIDE awards bestowed on two of the nation’s youngsters, Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi and Odey Goodness Ekunke, citing them as major pointers to a growing impact by the sport in the country.

Sports247 reports that, apart from enjoying spotlight attention as young members of Nigeria’s team to the recent 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Omoruyi and Ekunke both left the venue with personal elevations to their international statuses.

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Omoruyi is now recognised as a high-profile Woman Candidate Master (WCM), while Ekunke attained the esteemed title of Candidate Master (CM), thereby confirming major breakthroughs for both young players on the prestigious global chess scene.

In response to the developments, NCF secretary-general, Ejiro Thukson IV pointed out that global recognition achieved by Omoruyi and Ekunke are pointers to better days ahead of Nigeria in major chess competitions and important gains for the country from this year’s FIDE Olympiad.

Although the country’s contingent could not clinch any podium spot at the elite competion, which featured 208 teams in the open section and 192 in the women’s event, Thukson IV stressed that it showed how the future of Nigerian chess continues to take shape.

Thukson IV retorted, “The emergence of new titled players such as Omoruyi and Ekunke provides another important storyline from Samarkand, alongside the experience gained by the wider national team.

“The titles are particularly significant in the context of the progress both players have made. Ekunke, born in 2011, had already established himself as one of Nigeria’s brightest young players before arriving in Samarkand.

“At the Olympiad, the youngster again showed his quality, scoring 6 points from 11 games, including victories over players from New Caledonia, Saudi Arabia, Malawi, Guyana and Tunisia, as well as a draw against Cuba’s GM Aramis Alvarez Pedraza.

“Omoruyi was equally prominent. She scored 6 points from 10 games, registering six victories, including a crucial win against Syria in the final round. Her performance was one of the stronger individual returns in the Nigerian women’s camp.

“Other members also produced noteworthy performances. WIM Bridget Michael finished the women’s competition with 5½ points from nine games, while WFM Deborah Quickpen and WFM Michelle Chiamaka Nwankwo both finished on 4½ points.

“In the Open section, FM Abdulrahman Akintoye also recorded 5½ points, while IM Odion Aikhoje finished with 4½ points. FM Bomo Lovet Kigigha contributed 4½ points, with Ekunke leading the Nigerian men on six points.”

Sports247, however, gathered that the final stadings did not reflect the gallant efforts of everyone in the Nigerian contingent, as the women finished 85th with 11 match points, while the men placed 118th with 10 match points after 11 rounds.

Despite the startling low placements for the country, the NCF’s scribe insists it was a gallant outing for the contingent and enthused that many rays of hope emerged to indicate better days for Nigeria in the glittering array of global chess.