Naphtali Director Reiterates Commitment To Dev Chess

The Chief executive officer (CEO) of Naphtali Groups Dr Apollos Akomaka has reiterated his commitment to develop the game of Chess in Rivers State and beyond.
He stated his intention was to ensure that Chess is as popular as football and played by everybody in the State.
Dr. Akomaka said these shortly after he won the Naphtali  Battle Of Two Generations Chess Competition, in Port Harcourt, sponsored by Naphtali physiotherapy and wellness  Clinic, recently. at Twilight Lounge Total Gospel street, Odili road, Port Harcourt.
In the competition “The Battle of Two Generations came to a dramatic display with the Old Generation (Veterans) staging a comeback after Day 1 to thump the New Generation with a 7.5 vs 4.5 points on  the final Day.
At the commencement of the day one tournament  Martins Konju play the white pieces against tactical Dr Apollos Akomaka( veteran)  who played the black pieces, Akomaka stretched the young Martins Konju’s resilience to hold on the game  to a draw via continuous checks that eventually made Konju fell into a mating net and got mated.
Meanwhile, board two  saw an Under 14 player John Nwachukwu with the white pieces,who delivered a strategic attacking onslaught on his opponents Stanley Egbujie, the highest Fide rated player of the event with 1940 rating. Stanley Egbujie could not hold on with Nwachukwu’s attack as he had to resign to avoid an embarrassing mate that was in the offing.
It a different ball game on board three where the highest rated new generation player Pamella Ezeh Souter with a 1904 rating against an unrated veteran Ipalibo George wasted no time in employing his tactical prowess to subdue the veteran who succumbed    to pressure and resigned,giving the new generation the needed win after round one.
In the subsequent round  Martin Konju secured a 3 fold repetition and earn a vital draw against Dr. Akomaka while Stanley Egbujie had it easy over John Nwachukwu as Pamela Ezeh took advantage of the rustiness of Ipalibo George to deliver another resounding victory to give the new generation an early advantage of 3.5: 2:5 after Day 1.

Tonye Orabere