{"id":45135,"date":"2025-10-07T18:44:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/?p=45135"},"modified":"2025-10-07T18:44:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:44:29","slug":"from-kubwa-to-champion-the-rise-of-17-year-old-nyuima-ferdinand-tersee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/from-kubwa-to-champion-the-rise-of-17-year-old-nyuima-ferdinand-tersee\/","title":{"rendered":"From Kubwa to Champion: The Rise of 17-Year-Old Nyuima Ferdinand Tersee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s something magical about watching a young player break into the big time. When that kid is 17 and comes from humble roots, the magic becomes unforgettable. That\u2019s exactly the story of Nyuima Ferdinand Tersee<\/strong>, now Nigeria\u2019s youngest National Chess Champion \u2014 and my chess-fan heart is full of pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roots in Kubwa, Dreams in Motion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Born into the Nyuima family in Kubwa (within Abuja\u2019s lively rhythm), young Ferdinand had the kind of modest upbringing many Nigerians know well. His family \u2014 originally from Benue State \u2014 came to the federal capital chasing opportunities, working hard just to get by. But tucked into those everyday realities was a boy whose inner world would soon unfold on 64 black and white squares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At eleven, fate sent a mentor his way: Coach Eluekezi \u201cChucks\u201d Chukwuwikeh<\/strong>. Chucks didn\u2019t just teach him the nuts and bolts of chess; he saw something deeper \u2014 a mind both precocious and disciplined. Realizing that the boy needed more than casual coaching, Chucks embraced a larger role: protector, guide, and father figure. He helped steer Ferdinand\u2019s life, making sacrifices so the boy\u2019s talent wouldn\u2019t wither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Chucks relocated to Lagos for greater chess exposure, he didn\u2019t want Ferdinand left behind. He convinced the family that new terrain would offer new chances. And so the young man\u2019s journey moved him from Abuja to Lagos \u2014 turning change into opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climbing the Ranks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ferdinand\u2019s path was never easy \u2014 shy, reserved, and carrying big expectations \u2014 but slowly, his consistency spoke louder than fear or doubt. At 16, he secured qualification for the Nigeria National Chess Championship<\/strong>. Although he wasn\u2019t yet at the very top, that breakthrough planted him as a serious contender and made many observers take notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2024, his life took a turn for the better when Ogunsiku Babatunde<\/strong> took over as his manager. Under Babatunde\u2019s wing, Ferdinand was awarded a full scholarship to Platform School<\/strong>, a place where academics and chess could grow hand in hand. At last, the distractions of daily survival receded, and he could focus on what mattered: chess \u2014 and becoming the best version of himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That same year, Ferdinand claimed his first major open classical tournament win (via tiebreak) in the Chief Ephraim Ogungbe Memorial<\/strong>. It was proof: he wasn\u2019t just a rising junior \u2014 he was making waves in the open field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Finale: 2024 National Championship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the 2024 Nigeria National Chess Championship (Invitational Section)<\/strong> held in Lagos, Ferdinand faced Nigeria\u2019s most seasoned players. He fumbled early: a tough loss to Okemakinde Toluwanimi<\/strong>, despite dominating much of the game. But he bounced back \u2014 fought draws, won hard games, and stood toe-to-toe with names like IM Aikhoje Odion<\/strong> and CM Benjamin Omorere<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the final stages, the field was tight. FM Akintoye Abdulrahman \u201cTriple A\u201d Abdulraheem<\/strong> had edged into the lead. IM Balogun stumbled. Ferdinand, against all odds, delivered a crucial win in the closing round \u2014 pulling himself into a playoff with Triple A for the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They traded wins, and it all came down to an Armageddon<\/strong> tiebreak. Ferdinand had white, five minutes; Triple A had black, four minutes, needing just a draw. High stakes, high tension. But the young man played like he belonged \u2014 precise, fearless, composed \u2014 and took the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At just 17, Ferdinand claimed the National Champion<\/strong> title. Along with the trophy and cash prize, he earned an all-expense trip to the 2025 Africa Chess Championships<\/strong>. But more than that, he stamped his name into the chapters of Nigerian chess history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Lies Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This win is not the end \u2014 it\u2019s a beginning. Ferdinand\u2019s ultimate dream? To become a Grandmaster<\/strong>, a feat not yet achieved by any West African player. To do that, he\u2019ll need exposure, experience, international tournaments, and relentless growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the streets of Kubwa to national acclaim, his story reminds me (and all chess fans) that brilliance often arises from unexpected places. His journey is testament \u2014 to mentorship, sacrifice, faith, and the quiet power of devotion to craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s to Nyuima Ferdinand Tersee \u2014 Nigeria\u2019s king on the board, and a beacon for countless kids who believe their story, too, could start small and become big.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s something magical about watching a young player break into the big time. When that kid is 17 and comes from humble roots, the magic becomes unforgettable. That\u2019s exactly the story of Nyuima Ferdinand Tersee, now Nigeria\u2019s youngest National Chess Champion \u2014 and my chess-fan heart is full of pride. Roots in Kubwa, Dreams in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nigeria-chess-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45135"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45135\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigeriachessfederation.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}