Nigeria finish outside top 80 as Uzbekistan and China win chess titles

Nigeria finished outside the top 80 in both sections of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, as Uzbekistan retained the open title and China won the women’s competition. Uzbekistan topped the open standings with 20 match points after 10 wins in 11 rounds. India took silver with 18 points, while Germany also finished on 18 and secured bronze on the tie-break.

China went unbeaten in the women’s event, recording nine wins and two draws for 20 match points. Kazakhstan finished second with 18 points and India took bronze with 17. Nigeria’s open team placed 118th, collecting 10 match points from five wins and six defeats.

The team recorded 21 game points across the 11-round competition. Nigeria began with victories but struggled for consistency in the middle rounds, including a 4-0 defeat by Vietnam in Round 6. It later beat Tunisia 3½-½ in Round 9 before losing 4-0 to North Macedonia.

The team closed against Hong Kong, losing 2½-1½. Bomo Lovet Kigigha secured Nigeria’s only individual win in that match, while Odion Aikhoje and Bartholomew Okhipo lost and the remaining board was drawn. Abdulrahman Akintoye and Odey Goodness Ekunke were Nigeria’s leading open performers, each scoring 5½ points.

Nigeria’s women finished 85th with 11 match points from four wins, three draws and four defeats, and accumulated 24 game points. They defeated Guatemala 3-1 in Round 10 but lost 2½-1½ to Syria in the final round. Omuruyi led the team with 6½ points.

No African team won a medal. Algeria was the continent’s best open team in 80th, while Egypt led African women’s teams in 53rd. Nigeria ranked fifth among African teams in the women’s section.