Top Players Set for National Chess Championship   

With just eight days to the commencement of the annual Nigeria National Chess Championship (NCC) 2023, all the main stars in the Nigerian chess scene have prepared themselves for the tournament. 

All the regional stages have been concluded with top-rated players set for the eight-day chess fiesta in Lagos. 

The NCC is the biggest and most important chess event in the country and it is to determine the National Chess Champion and the National Women’s Chess Champion of the year.  

This edition is scheduled for October 2nd to October 9th, 2023 at the 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).  

Hundreds of players and visitors participate in this annual chess event. 

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

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.   

The tournament 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 school children are expected to participate in this category.   

Sports Minister, Mr John Enoh, will be the special guest of honour at the championship’s opening ceremony.  

A highlight of this year’s opening ceremony will be a session to induct seven distinguished Nigerian chess personalities and two organizations into the newly inaugurated Nigeria Chess Hall of Fame.