Sports
The Day Rivers Players Shone Brightest At Chess Open Championship
Precisely from 20th – 24th April 2024 the attention of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) was drawn to Port Harcourt the Garden City of Nigeria as it played host to the third edition of Naphtali Open Chess Tournament,
The five days competition which was sponsored by Naphtali Physiotheraphy and Wellness Clinic Ltd., was held at Vee Hotel, Trans Amadi, in Port Harcourt and over 80 players in Nigeria had the opportunity to vie for honours, prizes and showcase their talents in the tournament.
The championship was recognised by Naphtali Chess Club and recognised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) with the view to rank chess players in the country.
The Championship was witnessed by huge crowd, including notable chess players in the country, people from all walks of life, relatives and friends of the competitors.
The edition had an electrifying start as only eighteen (18) players emerged with a perfect score of 2/2 after the first two rounds, with only four players trailing by half a point.
Categories that participated in the tournament were; Male, Female, Veteran and Teenage; all these have different trophies and prizes at stake.
The atmosphere of the venue was captivated with excitement and can be compared to a Brazilian carnival as various fanfare took the stage while the tournament was on.
It was a keenly contested tournament as every player wanted to make a name for him/herself, most especially those competing for ranking.
There was absolute tranquility and concentration in the midst of the fanfare as the competition was going on because chess required such serene environment.
One of the matches that drew much attention was between 16-year-old Ferdinand Tersee Nyiuma and seasoned player CM Omorere Benjamin. The match saw a bold facing Tersee a resolute response from Benjamin. The game was breathtaking as both shared first position at the end.
It was a clash of the titans between Rivers born Koko Obubele and IIouno Ikenna, both players displayed what could be described as topnotch Chess artistry, showcasing skills and experience that saw Obubele, who eventually triumphed, dubbed the ‘king of double knight’.
This win earned Obubele the coveted trophy even as both finished tops in the tournament.
It was another exciting and notable encounter between Emmanuel Idara and Dr. Onyekwere Donald, South-East representative of NCF Board. Despite Idara’s status as the top seed, Donald’s steadfast defense and calculated play denied his opponent a place at the summit.
In the female category Rivers State born Queen Dan-Jumbo, made an impressive performance as she emerged the best female player in the Open Championship.
Also, special recognition was given to veteran participants, Dr. Apollos Akomaka also from Rivers and veteran female player Amadasun Rosemary, as they received the best veteran prizes.
It is worthy of note that Rivers State currently has the best chess players in Nigeria following track records both in the National Sports Festivals and National Competitions but it is worrisome that the game is not getting the desired attention as other Sports.
Consequently, the acting Chairman of Chess Association in the State, Dr. Appollos Akomaka has appealed to the Commissioner of Education in the State to make it mandatory for Chess to be included in the extracurricular activities of schools at all levels.
According to him, this will help to develop and promote the game at the grassroots level.
“ Chess is a very easy game to play both the rich and poor can play, but it requires commitment and determination to get to the peak. I personally started playing Chess as a teenager, it is good to start early.
“Honestly I am excited that I participated in the Open Chess Championship, and am also happy that I won the veteran category of the event”,Akomaka said.
Speaking shortly after the event, the winner of the male category, Koko Obubele, said the victory did not come easily, and noted that it was a very difficult competition but thanked God he won.
“ I am really happy that I emerged the champion in the male category because most of the best chess players in Nigeria participated.
“ Right now I am looking forward to international competitions because I have the zeal and talent.But what I really need is sponsorship, that is the only way for me to excel and make Nigeria, especially Rivers State proud” Obubele said.
Koko Obubele is one of the best Chess players in Nigeria, he has won several State and national championships including West African Universities Games, National Sports Festivals, Shell Chess Championship etc.
Also speaking, the winner of the best female player award in the tournament Queen Dan-Jumbo, expressed joy over her victory, saying that her dream was to become a chess grand master worldwide.
“ I am happy that I won this championship, this will spur me on do more and make Rivers State proud.
Tonye Orabere
Sports
Gyokeres Situation, Transfer Under Cloud At Sporting

Sporting have not received an offer for striker Viktor Gyokeres and there is no gentleman’s agreement for him to leave for £59million, says club president Frederico Varandas.
Sweden international Gyokeres, 27, has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Arsenal after scoring 97 goals in 102 matches during two seasons in Portugal.
He has a 100m euro (£85m) release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that, after staying at Sporting last summer, Gyokeres and Sporting agreed he could leave for 70m euros (£59m) this summer.
However, Varandas said the club’s only promise to Gyokeres was that they would not demand his full release clause.
“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.
“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres, neither today nor last season.”
Gyokeres spent three seasons with Coventry City in the Championship before joining Sporting under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana was sporting director at Sporting last summer, when Gyokeres’ agent sought assurances about his leaving if a suitable offer arrived.
“One of the agent’s biggest concerns was whether we would demand the termination clause,” said Varandas.
“He wanted to guarantee certain things. And what was agreed? That Sporting would not demand a release clause now.
“For one reason: he was going to be 27 years old and no player leaves Portugal at 27 for 100m eurors or 90m euros.
“In that same meeting the agent wanted to anchor the exit to a value. I said this sentence: ‘It’s not worth us setting a value because I don’t know what will happen in a year’s time. I don’t know if it will be 40m euros, 60m euros or 80m euros. What I can guarantee is that I will not demand 100 million euros.’”
Sports
Concacaf Opposes 64-Team W’Cup Plans

Concacaf President Victor Montagliani has criticised a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told Tidesports source
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
Sports
Brazil Edge Paraguay, Book W’Cup Spot

Brazil qualified for the 2026 World Cup this week with a 1-0 win against Paraguay in South American qualifying to give Carlo Ancelotti his first win as manager.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr scored from close range in the second half, finishing after fine work from Manchester United-bound playmaker Matheus Cunha.
The victory, Ancelotti’s first after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador on his debut last week, means Brazil has now qualified for every edition of the World Cup.
“We needed to win and qualify for the World Cup,” said Vinicius Jr.
“Now the coach will have more time to work. Of course today wasn’t one of our best performances, but the important thing is always to win.
“Now it’s time to celebrate qualifying.”
Elsewhere, World Cup holders Argentina played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with Colombia in Buenos Aires.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz opened the scoring with a fine individual goal, dancing through three defenders before finishing past Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina was reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off for a high-boot challenge on Colombia’s Kevin Castano.
But Lionel Messi’s side found an equaliser nine minutes from the end through Lyon’s Thiago Almada, leaving Colombia four points clear of seventh-placed Venezuela.
Ecuador, Argentina’s nearest challengers, booked their spot at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after a 0-0 draw away at Peru.
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