30th July, 2012
The hopes of Edo State Chess team hauling medals in the forthcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) billed for Lagos was boosted when Paul Akhamie and Sandra Aramude lived up to expectations in a Chess tournament held in Benin City, Edo State recently.
The one-day tournament whih took place at the media centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium saw Aramude and Akhamie scoring 6.0 and 5.0 to emerge overall best players in the female and male’s categories of the Open’s event of the tournament.
Aramude won the tournament and was given a Pepsi Cola giant cooler, while the second best player, Akhamie got a medium size Pepsi Cola umbrella.
The players promised to improve on their current performance to win gold medals for Edo State in the Sports Festival.
Chief Coach of Edo State Chess Association, Omoyeme Davies, said the winners justified their rating in the tourney because they have been hardworking players. He predicted good outing for them at the festival.
“Edo State has a formidable Chess team that can always deliver and I believe they won’y disappoint us in Lagos,” he said.
Director of Sports, Edo State Sport Council, Godwin Okute, who chaired the occasion, called on well-meaning individuals to join hands with the Sports Council in the development of Chess in the state.
Okute commended the association for ensuring that tournaments are staged regularly. The schools that participated in the tournament included Niger College, Immaculate Conception College, Edo College, Ogbe Secondary School, Pioneer Group of Schools, Police Chess Team and Sports Colony Chess Academy.
—Jethro Ibileke/Benin