Orchid Hotel, Lekki, Lagos To Host Nigeria National Chess Tourney In October

The Nigeria National Chess Championship (NCC), which is the biggest and most important chess event in Nigeria has been scheduled to be held from 2-9 October.

It is the determinant of the Nigeria National Chess Champion and the Nigeria National Women’s Chess Champion with hundreds of players and thousands of visitors participating in this annual chess event which runs for eight days.

Orchid-Lekki Chess Club (OLCC) hosts the Nigeria National Chess Championship on behalf of the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF).

In the last three years, the quality and influence of the Nigeria National Chess Championship has improved and grown significantly, leading to faster development of the sport in Nigeria.

The championship has unveiled young talents and provided hints on the future possibilities of chess in Nigeria.

The 2023 edition of the Nigeria National Chess Championship will be held at Orchid Hotel, Lekki, Lagos. The championship will feature an Elite Invitational Section where 24 of the best chess players in Nigeria will compete for the Nigeria National Chess Champion and Nigeria National Women’s Chess Champion titles.

The winners of these titles will represent Nigeria at the 2024 Africa Individual Chess Championship (AICC). The 24 players in this section went through a rigorous selection and qualification process which includes a Nigeria National Chess Championship Qualifiers Tournament, to be able to compete in this final stage.

Nigeria National Chess Championship 2023 will also have an Open Section which will accommodate players at every category including beginners and masters. Rank and file players and any member of the public can register to participate in the Open Section where they can test their mettle against other players of their playing strength.

The Open Section will also have a vibrant Junior Category that will cater for Under-20, Under-14 and Under-10 players. Hundreds of schoolchildren are expected to participate in this category. Below are the schedules for the sections/categories and the championship as a whole:

• Opening Ceremony: October 2 (11 a.m.).
• Blitz Tournament: October 2 (From 4pm).
• Elite Invitational Section: October 3 – October 9 (from 9am daily).
• Junior Category: October 3 – October 4 (From 9am daily)
• Open Section: October 5 – October 9 (From 9am daily).
• Closing Ceremony – October 9 (4pm).

Nigeria’s new Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr John Enoh, will be the special Guest of Honour at the championship’s opening ceremony