chess
about the Chess game
Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games. It is played by two opponents on a checkered board with specially designed pieces of contrasting colours, commonly white and black. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s king.
Chess first appeared in India about the 6th century CE. By the 10th century, it had spread from Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Some regard the game chaturanga to be the precursor of modern chess because of the different piece abilities and the win condition being the capture of a singular piece (king).
About Bayelsa State Chess Association
We align with the Nigeria Chess Federation, which is in Africa continent zone 4.2 and it was established in 1975 and also joined the FIDE in 1978 with the National NOC: Associate, National Olympic Committee.
The Bayelsa State Chess Association BYSCA was formed following the creation of the state in 1996.
However, it is no news that Bayelsa-borne athletes where the powerhouse of the then Rivers State.
BYSCA’s maiden participation in the sports festival was in 1998 in Imo state with Mr Dickson Dudefa as the head Coach where the association clinched a Gold by FM Kigigha Bomo and one Bronze by Rachael Edward-Dappa.
Subsequent, NSFs were no different as the association will always come home with at least nothing short of a Gold medal.
Achievement
In 2018 there was a turn around as the association in the NSF won 2 gold medals out of the 16 golds available for grasp in the ever challenging chess event. This result ASLO didn’t change in the year 2020, still 2 hold medals.
The association’s biggest break came in the just concluded NSF under the leadership of FM Bomo Kigigha as the head coach, where homegrown athletes where groomed and prepared for this event despite the ravaging flood that swept throughout the country. BYSCA won 5 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals.
See Us On National Chess Ranking: https://www.chess.com/events/2022-nigeria-national-chess-championships
Outstanding Athletes of BYSCA
| Name | Awards |
|---|---|
| Rachael Edward-Dappa | Female National Champion |
| FM Kigigha Bomo | 3 times National Champion |
| Deborah Quickpen | African Under 10 Girls Champion |
| Goodness Ekunke | African Under 10 Boys Champion |
The association keeps getting better by the day as weekly and monthly tournaments are being organized throughout the state, especially with the Bayelsa monthly Rapid chess tournament which has attracted wide range of spectators via online and as it’s been rated by the World’s chess Federation ‘FIDE’.
With the association’s current position on the global map, Bayelsa has about 650 chess players across the various LGAs with well over 150 licensed with FIDE.
