Abia State has flagged off the 2026 Southeast Chess Classic, bringing together more than 80 chess players from across Nigeria in a competition aimed at promoting chess, discovering young talents and strengthening the development of the sport in the Southeast.
The four days competition, was flagged off on Wednesday in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, attracting athletes, coaches, chess administrators, government officials and other stakeholders, with participants drawn from virtually all the states of the federation.
Declaring the competition open, the Abia State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the tournament represented more than a sporting event, describing it as an investment in young people and the future of the Southeast.
Ananaba said chess develops intelligence, discipline, patience, strategic thinking and the ability to make critical decisions, adding that the skills acquired through the game could benefit young people beyond the sporting arena.
“Chess is a game of intelligence, discipline, strategy, patience and foresight. It teaches our young people how to make critical decisions, anticipate consequences and develop the confidence to take responsibility for their choices,” he said.
The Commissioner said the state government viewed sports as a means of discovering talents, building character, creating opportunities and empowering young people to become productive members of society.
He noted that the administration of Governor Alex Otti would continue to support initiatives capable of identifying young talents at the grassroots, nurturing them through structured development and providing platforms for them to compete at national and international levels.
According to him, the Southeast Chess Classic was particularly significant because it brought young people from different parts of the region together, fostering friendship, interaction and a shared sense of purpose.
He urged the participants to compete fairly, respect their opponents and learn from every game, whether they won or lost.
“Remember that a champion is not defined only by the number of trophies you win, but also by the character, discipline and resilience developed along the journey,” Ananaba said.
The Commissioner also expressed appreciation to the organisers, coaches and stakeholders involved in the development of chess, stressing that their efforts were important to building a sustainable future for sports in the region.
He added that the state remained committed to working with sports associations and development partners to provide young people with the facilities, platforms and opportunities required to excel.
“Who knows, the next national champion, the next International Master, the Grandmaster or future official leaders may be sitting here today. It is our responsibility to discover that talent, nurture it and give it the opportunity to shine,” he said.
Ananaba thereafter formally declared the 2026 Southeast Chess Classic open.
Also speaking, the Director of Sports, Obioma George, commended the state government for its investment in sports development and thanked the organisers and participants for coming to Abia.
George said the state was increasingly creating opportunities for young people to identify and develop their talents in different sporting disciplines.
He explained that competitions such as the Southeast Chess Classic would also help the state identify athletes who could be nurtured for larger national competitions.
“At the end of every competition, we pick the best, nurture them and showcase them in the next competition,” he said.
He disclosed that outstanding participants from the chess competition would be considered for further opportunities, including preparations towards forthcoming national sporting events.
George also commended the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development for his commitment to developing sports in the state and urged the participants to make the most of the opportunity provided by the competition.
The Chairman of the occasion, Lukman Okala, described the tournament as an important intellectual component of sports and expressed delight at being part of the event.
Okala commended Governor Alex Otti for what he described as increased attention to sports development in the state, noting that the governor’s administration had demonstrated commitment to providing funding and opportunities for sporting activities.
“This is the first time in the history of Abia that chess is being recognised to this point,” Okala said.
He further stated that the state had witnessed a different approach to sports development under the present administration, particularly in terms of funding and the creation of opportunities for young people.
“We have not had it this good before in the area of sports,” he said.
Okala encouraged the participants to enjoy their stay in Abia and pledged his continued support for sporting activities in the state.
The Southeast Zonal Representative on the Nigerian Chess Federation Board, Onyekwere Macdonald, said chess development in the region had recorded progress in recent years.
Macdonald, who oversees chess activities in the Southeast and also serves on the medical commission of the international chess governing body, said the region was working to bridge existing gaps in chess development.
According to him, more tournaments have been organised in the region over the past two years, while training programmes have also increased the number of chess arbiters and other personnel required for the growth of the sport.
“The Southeast is striving very hard. We are catching up. We’re a little behind, but we are catching up in the last two years,” he said.
He said the region had also recorded an increase in the number of tournaments and development programmes, noting that the objective was to get more people involved in chess and discover new talents.
Macdonald expressed hope that the Southeast would eventually produce a Grandmaster and other internationally recognised chess players.
He explained that Abia was selected to host the tournament partly because of the state’s recent investment in sports.
“One of the few states that has invested a lot in sports in recent times is Abia, and I want to use this medium to congratulate and thank the current governor of the state, Governor Otti, for his big strides towards sports and chess in general,” he said.
He disclosed that the Southeast Chess Classic was one of several chess events scheduled for the year and the second major tournament held in the region within two months, following an earlier competition in Onitsha, Anambra State.
