Sports
Players Promise To Excel At NB Chess Opens
Some Lagos-based chess players have promised to excel at the 35th Nigerian Breweries Chess Open Tournament which starts today in Lagos.
The players told The Tidesports in separate interviews, that they had prepared well for the championships, slated for the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Some of the players were seen at the media centre, National Stadium, putting finishing touches to their game.
Bunmi Olape, Fide Master and defending champion, said he was determined and ready to defend his title.
“I just came back from a competition in Abuja early in the month and it has further prepared me for the July competition,” he said.
Olape said the increase in the star prize from N890,000 to N1.57 million, would further motivate him to excel at the competition.
“The star prize is a morale booster,” the player said.
Charles Campbell, another Fide Master, said he had intensified his training, and was waiting for the edition to show off his talent.
“I didn’t perform well to my best in the last edition, but I have improved on my game. At the July championships, I am sure that I’ll go all the way, to win the title.
Adeboyega Adebayo, who plays in the master’s category, said he was ready for the competition.
“I am done with the training sessions and ready for the championship. I have learnt from my mistakes in the last edition.’’
A Fide Master, Nsisong Bassey, who has maintained her unbeaten run, was optimistic of a good outing at the event.
“I am ready for another race, and I hope in God that I will make it”.
Another player in the female category, Vivian Dzaayem, said: ‘I really hope that my presence would be felt in this year’s edition, as I’ll prove my worth on the courts.
“I was out of the last competition early, and I was not happy that I did; I almost felt as if I did not participate in the tournament.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.