Winners emerge from third annual chess competition

New winners have emerged from the third annual chess competitors for faculties within the Federal Capital Territory.

Adedoyin Olumi, director of Operations, Christabel Personal Faculties, the competitors’s host, mentioned the chess recreation is especially necessary for learners.

“Why Chess? Chess is a recreation that helps learners make choices. It’s a recreation that helps stressed college students or learners who battle with their consideration span obtain calmness. It positively impacts the final educational efficiency of learners.”

Mrs Olumi mentioned the varsity determined to host faculties within the FCT yearly in order that learners may meet and compete with different college students from various faculties to enhance their information of the sport.

“It is necessary for the learners to fulfill with different college students to make certain of their information of the sport and to be taught from others.”

The director additionally highlighted that the varsity is engaged on different tasks, resembling Arithmetic and ICT, together with how Synthetic Intelligence (AI) will be explored in faculties.

“The college can also be trying into different areas of curiosity that may enhance learners’ educational efficiency. We’re taking a look at ICT and arithmetic. After we see learners who start to point out distinctive efficiency in arithmetic, as a faculty, we’ve got to step in and see to it that the zeal and fervour are nurtured and directed to yield the optimum profit.

“Arithmetic is an enormous deal, even overseas. College students are provided admission as a result of they’re good at arithmetic. When a learner is sweet at arithmetic and begins to develop confidence in that regard, there’s a tendency for the learner to enhance in different topics.”

Faculties converse

Ochuwa Ojukwu, a staffer from Thrive Academy, Lugbe, mentioned Chess promotes vital considering, and publicity for the varsity’s learners is vital, assembly with different folks and mixing up. Mainly, we all know that chess helps youngsters suppose strategically. It helps in calculating and even their mathematical abilities. That is our second time coming to this competitors. We have been right here final yr. Attending such competitions helps increase the arrogance of the learners. It provides them extra confidence to dive into larger issues. See their pleasure that they gained in one of many rounds.

“We deal with chess as a topic in our college. Studying chess is obligatory for all college students, from main to secondary college. This began about two years/periods in the past. There was a fantastic enchancment within the scholar’s efficiency since then. We sit up for attending extra such competitions and greater ones.”

The Chess Coach at Divine Mercy Asokoro Secondary College, Erastus Itwange, mentioned, “Over time, we’ve got seen that the sport helps college students, particularly within the sciences, to develop their potential, considering potential, and problem-solving abilities.

“They can clear up these issues forward of their counterparts. These are among the advantages of the sport, particularly within the sciences. Chess places the learners able the place they’ll suppose out of the field; they’ll deal with and clear up issues round their STEM topics, which might be maths, physics and chemistry as most of them contain problem-solving.”

On the significance of competing with different learners, Mr Itwange mentioned, “It’s like you’re coated in a field. When one tells you there’s mild outdoors, you doubt it till the field is opened. Then, you’ll really know that there’s extra for you that’s but to be found. A chess completion exposes the learners to actually see the place they’re after which know if they’re enhancing.

“Now we have taken chess critically within the final three years. We’re providing it as a membership within the college. Proper now, we enable the scholars to decide on whether or not or to not play it. It’s an extracurricular exercise. Even for sciences, it’s not obligatory. Compared, I can let you know that those that play chess stand out.

“I plan to talk to the dad and mom on the finish of this time period. For now, it’s operational on the secondary college. I might enlighten them on the advantages of chess so dad and mom can key in,” he mentioned.

The Head Boy of Divine Mercy Secondary College, Jeremiah Onolemhemhen, who was among the many gamers on the competitors, mentioned he sees chess as a difficult recreation by which he can attain his full potential.

“I began taking part in chess once I bought into Secondary College, in JSS 1. That was about 5 years in the past. I’ve been on the Chess membership ever since. I really feel I’ve an edge over some college students who don’t play chess. A few of them really feel that it’s a boring recreation. My recommendation is that they shouldn’t see it as only a board. It’s greater than that.”

Winners

About 15 faculties attended the competitors this yr. The highest three within the main class are Christabel Faculties, Vine Care, and Thrive Academy. In distinction, the highest three within the secondary class are Christabel Faculty, Premier Academy (Lugbe) and Hephzibah Bilingual Faculty.

Kelvin Ojo and Ekom Superior from Christabel Faculties had a tie because the Winner of the Finest Boy Main, whereas Biyaya Abu from Degracia Mannequin College gained the Gest Woman Main.

For the secondary class, Charles Oro from Christabel Faculty gained the Finest Boy Faculty award, whereas Elizabeth from Degracia Mannequin Faculties and Goodness from Thrive Academy tied for Finest Woman Faculty.

Trophies, medals and prizes have been awarded to the winners.

READ ALSO: Nigerian chessmaster Onakoya launches Chess Innovation Hub in Lagos

Chess

Chess is likely one of the oldest and hottest board video games. It’s often performed by two opponents on a checkered board with specifically designed items of contrasting colors, generally white and black. The target of the sport is to seize the opponent’s king.

When taking part in chess, the mind can be challenged to train logic, develop sample recognition, make choices each visually and analytically, and take a look at reminiscence. Anybody of any age can get pleasure from chess. Consequently, these mind workout routines will be a part of the well being of your mind for a lifetime.

Aside from its instructional benefits, chess has different advantages. It opens doorways of alternatives for improbable gamers. Tunde Onakoya is a Nigerian chess participant and coach who holds the Guinness World Document for the longest marathon chess recreation. Because the founder and convener of Chess in Slums Africa, he has organised a number of interventions for youngsters throughout slums in Lagos State, together with Majidun, Makoko, and, not too long ago, Oshodi.

Concerning the host

Established in 1999, the host of the competitors, Christabel Faculties, Wuye, Abuja, is a non-public college that exists to offer a stable begin and a very good base for all youngsters. The college is understood for its unmistakable tradition of excellence, character coaching, extraordinary care, and potentialities.