Titled Chess Players in Nigeria

As some might be unaware of, there are titles that are assigned to players that classify them as titled players. The titles are awarded when they reach a certain requirement and the standard titles are ranked as follows:

A. Grandmaster (GM)

B. International Master (IM)

C. FIDE Master (FM)

D. Candidate Master (CM)

For females, the word “Woman” is added in front of the open titles but the requirements are lesser compared to their counterparts. We have;

A. Woman Grandmaster (WGM)

B. Woman International Master (WIM)

C. Woman FIDE Master (WFM)

D. Woman Candidate Master (WCM)

There are other titles like National Master(NM) and Life Master(LM) but no such titles have been officially awarded to players under the Nigerian Chess Federation so far, although some unofficially refer to National Champions as NMs if they’re without official titles. There are also Arena titles that Nigerians hold. These titles are like the open titles but with the word “Arena” in front of each of them – just like in the women titles. They include;

A. Arena Grandmaster (AGM)

B. Arena International Master (AIM)

C. Arena FIDE Master (AFM)

D. Arena Candidate Master (ACM)

Nigeria is one of the leading countries in Africa in terms of chess and although she is yet to reach heights of expectations, some individuals have put in a lot of efforts to see the development of chess in Nigeria and for their dedication, they were rewarded with titles. Other Nigerian players could find inspiration by knowing their official Masters and Lichess ID(s) in order to spectate their skills online.

The following, according to title ranks, are the titled players(both active and inactive) in Nigeria and Lichess ID(if available) in bracket

Grandmasters

So far, Nigeria is yet to produce a Grandmaster.

International Masters

So far, Nigeria has produced seven International Masters.

Anwuli Daniel (Daniel_Anwuli, CPAN)

Akintola Fola

Balogun Oluwafemi (stuffings)

Aikhoje Odion (Odirovski)

Olape Bunmi (Micfel)

Adu Oladapo (Dapsay)

Oparaugo Thomas

FIDE Masters

So far, Nigeria has produced fourteen FIDE Masters.

Adebayo Adegboyega (dabee, olarovfan)

Kigigha Bomo (grandmasterbomo)

Abdulraheem Abdulrahman Akintoye (dbestsmiles, madnesshasarrived)

Osunfuyi Abimbola (ABIMBOLA-OSUNFUYI)

Oragwu Chukwunonso (Nonsopolo)

Akinseye Abiola (morpheouspro)

Adelaja Abimbola

Adesina Adeyinka

Agusto Obafunmilayo

Onovughe Ochuko Emmanuel (Ochukov)

Fawole John Oyeyemi (Fawolizzo)

Ajibowo Olamide Patrick 

Unwana Eugene Ekpoikong (talk2uee)

Erhabor David (oduma)

Candidate Masters

So far, Nigeria has produced eleven Candidate Masters.

Sorungbe Ademola (silencerbaba)

Onyekwere Chikwere

Campbell Charles (candychessmaster)

Okike David (Davigator)

Onokpite Kennedy (drunkenmasterchess)

Dieyi Roland (naijacobweb)

Omorere Benjamin Aruoture

Edunwale Hakeem

George Lolomari Erekosima (majivsky)

Atabor Job (Jobito)

Oyama Ekok

All players occupying the open titles are males.

Nigeria has also produced female titled players.

Woman Grandmaster

So far, Nigeria has been able to produce no Woman Grandmaster.

Woman International Master

So far, Nigeria has been able to produce just one Woman International Master.

Coker Omolabake

Woman FIDE Masters

So far, Nigeria has produced five Woman FIDE Masters.

Asanga Nsisong

Olatunji Oluwatobiloba

Ogbiyoyo Perpetual Eloho (guitargirl, perpz)

Akintoye Deborah (shannieash01)

Rabiu Olabisi (olaoluwabc)

Woman Candidate Masters

So far, Nigeria has produced six Woman Candidate Masters.

Alabi Omolola

Etokowo Imeh

Aramude Sandra (ebosen)

Chukwuemeka-Ehirim Chinyere (chessdragon234)

Uwa Obasi-Chekwas

Enarevba Tega Mandy

It would be notable to mention that there are arena titled players such as Apemiye Austin (AGM), Boyo Paul (AIM) amongst others.

  In total, Nigeria has produced 42 titled players(20 inactive) in which 30 are male and 12 are female. Honorary mentions are new titled players such as IM elect Ajibola Olanrewaju (papajio1), CM elect Okeke Isaac (Naijakid), WIM elects Toritsemuwa Ofowino, WCM elects Peace Samson(Pinique) and Brume Omimi and so on and they are bound to attain the official titles soon. Aside players with an official title, Nigeria has players that are as strong in gameplay as titled players and hopefully, they would attain official titles.

It is also mandatory to mention that Nigeria has produced only 48 rated female players since conception which prompts the urgency to train more female players and enable them to attain requirements to become FIDE-rated.

Kindly drop a comment below.

Credits:

Titoluwanimi Raphael (Agelss)

Ajibade Olayemi (Olarov)

AGM Apemiye Austin

Adetunji Adeyimika (WeirdLogic)