Sports
Team Nigeria Depart For Budapest As 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad Kicks Off
The event, which began on September 10 and runs until September 23, will see the quartet compete in various categories.
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Among the standout members is chess prodigy Deborah Quickpen, a wildcard entrant recently awarded the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title by FIDE.
At just 13 years old, Quickpen is one of the most promising players in her age group and is eager to make her mark at the Olympiad.
Ahead of the team’s departure, the Bayelsa State native expressed her enthusiasm on Instagram, writing, “Destination: Budapest, Hungary. Mission: Chess Olympiad. Target: It’s time to raise the flag flying high. Wish us success.”
The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad officially opened in Budapest last Wednesday, drawing nearly 2,000 chess players, including world number-one Magnus Carlsen and over 200 unrated competitors.
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While the opening ceremony was more understated compared to the grand spectacle in Chennai in 2022, Hungarian chess legends, the Polgar sisters, were present to officiate the event.
Held biennially, the Chess Olympiad is the largest global chess event, featuring 380 national teams, each with five players, representing nearly 200 countries. The tournament consists of 11 rounds played across four boards.
The previous edition in Chennai, India, in 2022, was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a grand stadium setting.
However, this year’s ceremony, though modest, was still steeped in tradition with Hungary’s chess elite in attendance.
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