Sports

N.9m For Grab As Club Moves To Resuscitate Chess Game In Edo

Published

4 weeks ago

August 28, 2023

Editor

The Chess Culture Club has splashed N900,000 on the 22 winners of the different categories of events at the second Benin City Quarterly Chess Tournament.

At the final of the tournament held at the Gymnasium Hall of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Complex, the star prize of N120,000 went to Ernest Afam, for emerging the overall winner of the competition.

A FIDE Master in chess, David Erhabor emerged the winner of the veteran category and earned N40,000; the money he donated to a four year-old Ivanka Jesse-Onoyeyan, the youngest player in the tournament, while others prizes ranged from N10,000 to 75,000.

Besides the star and veteran prizes, others were first, second and third in Under-10 boys and girls categories; Under-14 boys and girls; as well as women’s categories.

In his remark, Mr Ehidiamhen Akhiwu, the proprietor of the club said the tournament was aimed at growing the game of chess in the state and Nigeria.

“We all know the benefits of chess to the development of the totality of a human being; that is why we are trying to grow chess all over the world.

“Chess will benefit our children and that is why we want to catch them young. We want to address the younger generation of chess players.

“Of course, chess is good for everyone whether young or old, but when you catch them young, it becomes a nursery for us to nurse better citizens because chess teaches simple logic, which is necessary which is what is deficient in our society today.

“We believe that when we teach our children chess; apart from the fact that it embellishes their IQ, it also teaches them how to be civil and better citizens of our country.

“So everything they do will be guided by logical reasoning. That is why we think Chess is very good and in the developed world today, they put a priority tag on chess and teach it in school,” said Akhiwu.

Also speaking, Mr Stanley Ailuelohia, a partner and one of the players said he was excited young players were beginning to show interest in the game.

“If the minds of the young minds are developed, Ailuelohia said”, a generation of strategic thinking would be grown.

He expressed confidence that the future editions would be bigger and better and serve as an opportunity for sponsors to project their brands.

Speaking in the same vein, veteran David Erhabor described chess as gymnasium of the mind, calling on corporate bodies to always sponsor chess competitions for the younger generation to exercise their intellect.

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Sports

Israel Adesanya Faces Three Months Jail Term

Published

4 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Editor

Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has pleaded guilty to drunk-driving charges in his home country of New Zealand.

The incident took place on August 19, when Adesanya was pulled over and found with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in his system. The legal limit in New Zealand is 50 milligrams.

Adesanya was returning from dinner with friends when he ‘encountered a Random Breath Testing unit’ in Auckland, his team told ESPN.

He could face up to a $2,680 fine and/or three months in jail, according to ESPN.

‘I want to apologize to the community, my family and my team for the decision I made to get behind the wheel after drinking at a dinner,’ Adesanya said in a statement provided to ESPN.

‘I am disappointed with my decision to drive, it was wrong. I know that people might follow me and I want them to know I do not think this behavior is acceptable.’

Kanye West and Bianca Censori cause a frenzy in Florence as rapper directs his wife to pose in front of excited locals (photos)

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Sports

Osimhen Misses Penalty In Napoli’s Goalless Draw With Bologna

Published

1 day ago

September 24, 2023

Editor

Napoli’s underwhelming start to the season persisted after a missed penalty by Victor Osimhen condemned the Serie A champions to a 0-0 draw at Bologna on Sunday.

The Nigerian striker fired his penalty wide of the target in the 72nd minute after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s deflected cross had struck the arm of substitute Riccardo Calafiori.

After a run of two wins, a defeat and two draws, the champions are languishing in seventh place in the standings and trail leaders Inter Milan by seven points. Bologna are 11th with six points.

Napoli manager Rudi Garcia tried to remain positive despite the result.

“The negative element is the result, but the performance was good, especially in the first half,” he told newsmen.

“We had some tactics that worked but are not entirely happy because there is no victory.”

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Sports

NYG: Ekiti Governor Recalls Sports Council Boss Over Athletes’ Poor Kitting

Published

1 day ago

September 24, 2023

Editor

Ekiti Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has recalled the General Manager of Ekiti State Sports Council, Adekunle Adeyemi, from the ongoing 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta, over the athletes’ poor kitting.

Adeyemi’s recall was announced on Sunday through a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun in Ado Ekiti.

The statement directed the GM to immediately account for the poor kitting of the state’s athletes at the opening session of the competition.

It described the development as unfortunate, adding that the state will take full responsibility of the regrettable incident.

“The directive followed the shabby appearance of the state contingent at the march-past event during the opening ceremony of the National Youths Games.

“Adeyemi is expected to explain circumstances leading to the shabby kitting of the state athletes at the opening session, which photograph is circulating online.

“He was directed to hand over to the next most senior official at the games and return home immediately.

“The official who will act as head of the delegation is to oversee the welfare and wellbeing of the athletes at the competition,” the statement read.

The commissioner said that the state government made adequate provisions for the team’s participation at the games.

He restated the commitment of Oyebanji administration to providing platforms for Ekiti youths to exhibit their God-given talents in line with its youth development and job creation agenda.

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