In September 2022, Nigeria found itself under the chess spotlight. Lagos became the continent’s chess battleground, hosting the 2022 Africa Individual Chess Championship — a gathering of Africa’s finest minds on 64 squares. For chess fans, it was electric. For Nigeria, it was a moment to shine.
Setting the Stage: Ambition Meets Opportunity
The tournament took place from 18 to 27 September 2022 at Orchid Hotel in Lagos.
Players poured in from across Africa — 93 participants from 27 countries in the Open section alone, and 28 women from 14 federations in the Women’s section.
The opening ceremony had fat fanfare: FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made the ceremonial first move.
His presence wasn’t symbolic only — it represented a signal to the world that Nigeria was taking chess seriously.
There was also buzz that the visit of the FIDE President would bring more visibility, more ties, and an uplift to how Africa chess is perceived internationally.
Fire on the Boards: The Open Section
From the start, it looked like a duel. Leading names like GM Bassem Amin and GM Ahmed Adly swiftly pulled ahead.
By Round 9, both had amassed 8/9 points and were tied at the top.
The deciding factor became the tie-break criteria (average rating of opponents), which ultimately favored Bassem Amin, crowning him African Champion for the 6th time.
Adly took silver. Bronze went to GM Hesham Abdelrahman with 7/9.
Here’s how the top looked (Open):
| Rank | Name | Federation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bassem Amin | Egypt | 8/9 |
| 2 | Ahmed Adly | Egypt | 8/9 |
| 3 | Hesham Abdelrahman | Egypt | 7/9 |
| 4 | IM Silva David | Angola | 6/9 |
Also notable: Nigeria had solid showings. FM Joel Adebayo Adegboyega scored 6/9 to finish among top performers.
Other Nigerians like Eyetonghan Denyefa Callistus, IM Okeke Isaac Chukwudalu, and Toritsemuwa Ofowino also made appearances in the standings.
Queens on Parade: Women’s Section
The women’s competition was equally compelling. WGM Shahenda Wafa of Egypt captured the title with 7/9.
She edged ahead of WIM Charlize Van Zyl (South Africa) and Bridget Michael (Nigeria), both with 6.5/9. Van Zyl got silver on tie-break; Michael took bronze.
Interestingly, Shahenda’s only loss came in Round 7, when she was bested by Nigeria’s Toritsemuwa Ofowino.
Other strong women performers included WFM Luzia Pires (Angola), who scored 6/9.
What This Meant for Nigeria
Hosting such a continental event is no small feat. Nigeria leveraged it to:
- Showcase the country as capable of a high-level chess organization
- Bring the chess world’s eyes to Lagos
- Give Nigerian players (especially women) a chance to face top African competition on home soil
- Ignite more interest in chess across schools, clubs, and communities
Because Nigeria held the hosting rights, the event also created opportunities to boost local chess capacity — infrastructure, visibility, and building relationships with sponsors and chess bodies.
Even more, the presence of the FIDE President elevated the stakes, signaling that Nigeria was no longer merely a participant but a venue worthy of global chess diplomacy.
Personal Note: Why This Matters
As a chess lover watching Nigeria host the event, I see more than winners and losses. I see seeds being planted. When players like Michael or Adegboyega perform on a continental stage in their home country, that’s powerful. When young Nigerians see these games unfold in Lagos, that inspires dreams.
The fact that the Egyptian sweep happened (both Open and Women titles) is a reminder of how dominant Egypt has been in African chess — but also a challenge: how much closer can Nigeria come, year over year?
