More than 80 chess players from across Nigeria have converged on Umuahia for the 2026 Southeast Chess Classic, as Abia State seeks to promote the sport and identify emerging talents.
The four-day tournament, which commenced on Wednesday, September 23, is bringing together players, coaches, administrators, government officials and other stakeholders, with participants drawn from several states across the country.
Flagging off the competition, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, described the tournament as an investment in young people and the future of sports in the Southeast.
Ananaba said chess develops intelligence, discipline, patience, strategic thinking and decision-making skills, which, according to him, could benefit young people beyond the sporting arena.
“Chess teaches our young people how to make critical decisions, anticipate consequences and develop the confidence to take responsibility for their choices,” he said.
The commissioner said the administration of Governor Alex Otti would continue to support initiatives aimed at identifying talents at the grassroots, developing them through structured programmes and providing opportunities for them to compete at national and international levels.
He noted that the tournament was also significant for bringing young people together, fostering friendship and promoting interaction across the Southeast.
Ananaba urged participants to compete fairly, respect their opponents and learn from both victories and defeats, stressing that sporting success should also be measured by character and discipline.
“A champion is not defined only by the number of trophies you win, but also by the character, discipline and resilience developed along the journey,” he said.
He commended the organisers, coaches and other stakeholders for their efforts towards the development of chess and assured them of the state’s continued collaboration in providing platforms and opportunities for young athletes.
The State Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, commended the government for its investment in sports development and welcomed the players and officials to Abia.
George said the state had continued to create opportunities for young people to identify and develop their talents across various sporting disciplines.
“At the end of every competition, we pick the best, nurture them and showcase them in the next competition,” he said, adding that outstanding players from the tournament could be considered for further opportunities, including preparations for national sporting events.
Also speaking, the Southeast Zonal Representative on the Nigerian Chess Federation Board, Onyekwere Macdonald, said chess development in the region had recorded increased activity in recent years.
Macdonald said more tournaments and training programmes had been organised across the region, leading to an increase in the number of chess arbiters and other personnel required for the growth of the sport.
He said the initiatives were aimed at expanding participation and discovering talents, expressing optimism that the Southeast could eventually produce a grandmaster and other internationally recognised players.
Macdonald attributed Abia’s selection as host partly to the state’s recent investment in sports.
He commended Governor Otti for what he described as increased attention to sports and chess development in the state.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Lukman Okala, described chess as an important intellectual component of sports and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the tournament.
Okala also commended the state government’s approach to sports development, particularly its funding and creation of opportunities for young people, while encouraging participants to enjoy their stay in Abia.
Some participants, including Miracle Omesu and 12-year-old Theophilius Ugochi, said chess had helped them develop skills applicable to everyday life.
They also identified the prospect of attaining higher chess titles and the rewards associated with the sport as factors motivating them to pursue the game more seriously.
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