Nigeria’s Open and women’s teams both won 3½–½ on Thursday at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, defeating Guyana and Lesotho respectively after a difficult seventh round for the delegation.
Bomo Kigigha put a point on the board for the Open team against Kyle Couchman. Abdulrahman Akintoye Abdulraheem beat Taffin Khan, while Odey Goodness Ekunke defeated Keron Sandiford. Bartholomew Emmanuel Okhipo drew with Anthony Drayton to complete the result.
The win brought some relief after Nigeria lost 4-0 to Vietnam in round six and 3-1 to Libya in round seven. Abdulraheem had scored Nigeria’s only point against Libya, but Thursday gave the team victories on three boards and its fourth match win of the tournament. Its earlier successes came against New Caledonia, Saudi Arabia and Malawi.
Nigeria’s women also produced three individual wins. Iyefu Joy Onoja beat Boitumelo Sethabathaba, Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi defeated Ngatane Lieketseng, and Bridget Michael won against Pontso Makhebesela. Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen drew her game with Bonolo Ntsielo on the top board.
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Both teams had lost in round seven, so the victories allow them to approach the closing stages with a better result behind them. Nigeria’s Open team have been paired with Tunisia in Friday’s ninth round; the competition continues through the weekend.
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