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Chess enthusiasts can look forward to exciting experiences as Nigeria prepares to host the Zone 4.2 West Africa Chess Championships from March 31 to April 9.
In an interview with the journalists in Ibadan on Saturday, Media Director of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Babatunde Ogunsiku, stated that meticulous preparations are underway for an unforgettable tournament.
Ogunsiku mentioned that this championships will mark the third edition for West Africa within the Zone 4.2 region.
“The LOC is dedicated to ensuring a flawless event that will create a memorable impression for both participants and representatives of the various federations attending from across Nigeria.
“Previously, West Africa was categorized under Zone 4.4 with a larger number of countries. However, in 2023, the division was revised, increasing the number of zones in Africa from four to five. Zone 4.1 encompasses Northern Africa, Zone 4.2 includes Western Africa, Zone 4.3 represents Central Africa, Zone 4.4 covers Eastern Africa, and Zone 4.5 pertains to Southern Africa.
He noted that correspondence had been dispatched to the 11 West African nations that comprise the zone. “They have until March 15 to submit their registrations. After this deadline, late registrations will only be considered at the discretion of the LOC,” he explained.
Ogunsiku also highlighted that this would be Nigeria's inaugural hosting of Zone 4.2. “We have previously hosted the entire continent twice - first in Abuja in 2003 and then in Lagos in 2022.
“Hosting such a competition provides Nigerian chess players an opportunity to incur lower expenses for participation, as the event is rotated among different countries each year. It represents a significant opportunity that arises once a year, attracting interest from thousands of individuals across Africa and beyond,” he said.
“The tournament will consist of a nine-round Classical Chess format, featuring a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes plus a 30-second increment for the remainder of the game (per player).
“At present, there is a standard prize pool of $3,000. Nevertheless, the team is actively seeking sponsors to boost the prize funds. There is optimism that this will be achieved before the registration period concludes,” he stated.
Rocketparrot News reports that the championships will take place at CitiHeights Hotel, Lagos, from March 31 to April 9
