24 November 2004
Current National Chess Champion, Bomo Kigigha, has vowed to justify his present status within the chess ranking by coming top at the forth coming AshtonWells Invitational tournament at the Abraka Turf Club, Oria in Delta State on 26th-28th November 2004.
Kigigha, who was a former junior national champion, against all odds, overwhelmed all the top players at the last Nigerian Breweries International Open Chess event to emerge as the new 'Lion of Chess in the country said he is in the right frame of mind to dislodge all opposition and cart awaythe N150,000 star prize.
"When I won the last NBL event, many chess pundits are still sceptical about my current ability in the brain game but I am happy that AshtonWells have provided an opportunity for me to prove myself as the "man to beat".
"What fascinates me about the whole thing is the fact that the atmosphere under which the tournament will take place is highly conducive and it conforms with the FIDE standard.
"It's a great pleasure playing against the FIDE rated players. I want to test my strength against International Master Odion Aikhoje's Reti opening, or to neutralise Adebayo Adegboyega's Queen's opening formation.
"If I can achieve good results against them, it will give the strength to take on other formidable opponents in Afolabi Akintola (2287), Femi Oluwaseyitan (2160) and of course, Olubunmi Olape (2304) who happens to be the highest ranked player in the country today," Kigigha said after a training session last week.
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