In 2025, Nigerian chess got one of its proudest moments: Tennyson Ewomazino Olisa, a 22-year-old talent from Delta State, became the first Nigerian ever to qualify for the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament. This wasn’t just personal glory—his debut marked a milestone for the country’s chess scene as a whole.
Rising Through the Ranks
Olisa’s journey up hasn’t been easy, but boy, has it been impressive. He began making waves with strong performances in junior and zonal competitions. In the Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship, he clinched silver. That same success opened the door to the Africa Super Zonal Chess Championship in Lagos, which he won in convincing fashion (7½ out of 9 rounds). That win didn’t just bring a title—it also helped him secure his place in the Grand Swiss.
At that Super Zonal, Olisa demonstrated an eye for precision and nerve under pressure, beating several formidable opponents and showing maturity well beyond his years. The tournament was historic in itself—the first of its kind for super zonals in Africa—and Olisa emerged as its champion.
The Grand Swiss Debut
When the Grand Swiss rolled around (in Samarkand, Uzbekistan), Olisa stepped onto one of the strongest classical chess stages in the world. Grandmasters from every corner of the globe were there. For a player from Nigeria—where chess infrastructure and international exposure have lagged in many ways—this was both a challenge and a statement.
In the Grand Swiss, Olisa held draws against strong opponents like GM Baadur Jobava and others. While his overall score wasn’t among the top finishers, what mattered most was the experience—the games at that level, the atmosphere, playing with and against world-class competition.
Why It Matters (More Than Just the Score)
- First for Nigeria: No Nigerian had ever qualified for this event before. That alone makes Olisa’s participation historic.
- Setting the Standard: His path (Zone → Super Zonal → Grand Swiss) shows a functioning ladder for top players. Young Nigerian players can now see that with the right performances, they too can make it to the big leagues.
- Building Exposure & Confidence: Playing against Grandmasters with ratings in the 2600s or more is tough. Drawing some of them proves that Olisa belongs among them—and gives him insights he couldn’t get at local or zonal level.
- Inspiring the Chess Community: Fans, trainers, younger players—all of them get something from seeing someone from their country (with similar constraints) break through. It raises expectations, ambition, and belief.
What Still Lies Ahead
Olisa’s peak classical rating as of mid-2025 is 2287, which is solid but still leaves room for growth into higher echelons of international chess. With experience, better training, more exposure to tournaments abroad, and more chances at high-stakes matches, the next few years could be transformative for him.
Also, performing well in the Grand Swiss (or even just holding his own) adds to one’s reputation. It can attract sponsorship, invitations, and better competitive opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Tennyson Ewomazino Olisa’s debut at the Grand Swiss is one of those moments you’ll look back on years from now and say: that was when things changed. For Nigerian chess, it’s not just the result of one tournament—it’s the affirmation that global competitiveness is within reach.
Here’s hoping this is the first of many more appearances on big stages, many more inspiring games, and many more Nigerian chess stars blazing trails the way Olisa has begun to.
