Organisers have concluded plans to stage the 5th edition of the Olojo festival chess championships.
The championship with the theme “Give Kids the World: Empowering Young Minds” is scheduled to hold from September 22nd to September 23rd at the Ife grand resort, Ile-Ife, Osun state.
Vice chairman of the Osun state chess association, Awope Adebisi said the chess tournament is an annual sporting event held simultaneously with the World famous Olojo Festival celebrated in the ancient metropolitan city of Ile-Ife. It is a way of celebrating with the Ooni of Ife.
“The Olojo Festival Chess Tournament is Symbolic to The Aare, the first beaded King’s Crown which is worn once in a year during the OLOJO FESTIVAL’S cultural procession. Chess being The game of Kings with it’s popular nobility among Royal Famiies, Most Elites and Well to do People,” Adebisi noted.
Vice president of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewole believed the tournament offers local chess lovers as well as visitors to ‘the source’ during this important traditional festival an opportunity to not only reawaken their recreational spirit but also, to empower the youths.
Also, to explore the social and local sport tourism attractions in the ancient city of Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race.
“The Olojo festival chess is rated by the International chess federation and has been listed as part of the governing body’s activities which will in-turn attract more chess players, not only in Africa but all over the world,” Adewole said.
This year’s event comes with a different format whereby all players shall play a 4-round rapid games using Swiss system and the top 32 players after the four rounds shall go into a knock-out stage.
