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
Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.
The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.
However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.
Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.
But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.
Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.
Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)
Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.
The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.
That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.
This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.
“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”
“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”
Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.
They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.
Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.
Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.
In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.
The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.
Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.
Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.
But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.
With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.
Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.
Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.
Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.
The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.
Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.
He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.
Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.
Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.
Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.
The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.
It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.
The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.
Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.
Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.
Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.
The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.
It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.