Team Nigeria record strong Round 9 wins as men defeat Tunisia, women draw Zambia at Chess Olympiad

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...North Macedonia awaits Nigeria's men in Round 10, women meets Guatemala 

By Maxwell Kumoye 
 
 

Team Nigeria’s men produced another impressive performance at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, defeating Tunisia 3½–½ in Round 9 on Friday, while the women shared the points with Zambia in a 2–2 draw.

The results moved both Nigerian teams to 10 match points after nine rounds of the 11-round competition, setting up another important day of action when Round 10 takes place on Saturday, September 26. 

Nigeria’s Open team continued its recovery with a convincing victory over Tunisia.

On Board 1, FM Bomo Lovet Kigigha held Tunisia's Mohamed Khalil Abdallah to a draw, while FM Abdulrahman Akintoye Abdulraheem defeated Yacine Barbaria on Board 2.

IM Odion Aikhoje added another full point by beating Zoubaier Amdouni, before Odey Goodness Ekunke completed the 3½–½ victory with a win over Hamed Ben Ghanem. 

The result was Nigeria's second successive emphatic victory after the team defeated Guyana 3½–½ in Round 8.

Nigeria had entered the tournament as the 84th seed but, after nine rounds, had accumulated 10 match points. Abdulraheem has been particularly consistent, with 5½ points from nine games. 

The Nigerian women, meanwhile, faced Zambia in another all-African contest.

After returning to winning ways with a 3½–½ victory over Lesotho in Round 8, Nigeria went into the Zambia encounter with eight match points. Zambia had also won strongly in Round 8, beating Namibia 3½–½. 

Nigeria and Zambia subsequently shared the points 2–2, leaving the Nigerian women on 9 match points after nine rounds.

Nigeria's squad in Samarkand consists of WFM Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen, Iyefu Joy Onoja, WFM Michelle Chiamaka Nwankwo, Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi and WIM Bridget Michael, captained by Ejiro Okessena Thukson IV. 

The Nigerian men will face North Macedonia in Round 10 on Saturday at 3pm local time in Samarkand.

Nigeria is currently carrying a team rating average of 2282. 

North Macedonia has also had a competitive tournament and entered the latter stages with four match points.

Saturday's encounter represents another opportunity for Nigeria to add to their match-point tally before the final round on Sunday.

In the women's Round 10 pairing, Nigeria has a date to keep with Guatemala.

With only two rounds remaining, the Nigerian teams will now be looking to close out their Samarkand campaign strongly after combining for a win and a draw in Friday's Round 9.

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