Host nations have traditionally performed well in FIDE Zonal competitions, and the 2025 Zone 4.2 West Africa Chess Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, was no exception. The host nation claimed four of the six medals on offer in this prestigious event.
This year’s championship, held at the Citiheight Luxury Hotel in Ikeja, brought together 42 players from eight Zone 4.2 countries. Reigning champion Abdulrahman Akintoye rose to the occasion, winning title for the second consecutive year with an impressive 7½ points out of 9.
Toritsemuwa Ofowino also displayed remarkable prowess in the women’s section, earning her second consecutive and fourth overall Zone 4.2 Championship title.
Their victories ensure that Nigeria retains both Zone 4.2 Championship titles for the second year running. Additionally, both players have qualified to represent the zone at the African Chess Confederation Super Zonal Chess Championship.
Abdulrahman Akintoye retains Zone 4.2 West Africa title
As the defending champion, Abdulrahman was seeded second, just behind top-seeded Amarelle Ortega. He delivered an impressive performance—winning six games and drawing three—to finish with 7½ points. His key draws came against Ortega, third-seeded Denyefa Eyetonghan, and seventh-seeded Tersee Nyuima.
Tennyson Olisa, the 10th seed, secured the silver medal with a strong 7-point score. The 22-year-old won six games, with his only losses coming against Abdulrahman and Odion Aikhoje. A major highlight was his victory over top seed Amarelle Ortega in Round 7.
Ortega, the 2023 Zone 4.2 champion, claimed bronze with 6½ points. She scored five wins, three draws (against Toluwanimi Okemakinde, Abdulrahman Akintoye, and Denyefa Eyetonghan), and suffered one loss to Olisa.
Tersee Nyuima impresses once again
Tersee Nyuima, who recently made history as Nigeria’s youngest National Chess Champion, followed up with a commendable 4th-place finish. The 17-year-old won five games, drew twice with champion Abdulrahman Akintoye and Oluwadurotimi Lapite, and suffered a single defeat at the hands of Mustapha Othman.
Nigeria dominates open section
Nigeria underlined its strength by securing nine of the top ten positions in the open section. Odion Aikhoje, Denyefa Eyetonghan, Oluwafemi Balogun, and Oladapo Adu all finished with 5½ points, while Toluwanimi Okemakinde, Obama Onuoha, and Oluwadurotimi Lapite followed closely with five points each.
Toritsemuwa Ofowino claims her second consecutive title
Nigeria’s chess sensation Toritsemuwa Ofowino continued her dominance, clinching her second consecutive—and fourth overall—Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship title. The top seed lived up to expectations, scoring eight out of a possible nine points with seven wins and two draws, against WCM Emmanuela Esther Ayemou Mazan and Michelle Nwankwo in rounds four and five, respectively.
Azumi Suleiman, the second seed, also impressed with a 7½-point performance, including seven wins, one draw, and one loss—to Toritsemuwa. She secured the silver medal.
Ivorian prodigy Emmanuela Esther Ayemou, just 17 years old, maintained an unbeaten record throughout the competition, finishing with seven points from five wins and four draws. The sixth seed held her own against the tournament’s top competitors, drawing with Toritsemuwa, Suleiman, Michelle Nwankwo, and Bridget Michael.
The African Chess Confederation Executive extends its sincere appreciation to the Nigerian government, the Minister of Sports Development, the National Sports Commission of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Chess Federation for successfully hosting this year’s edition of the Africa Zone 4.2 West Africa Chess Championship.
Written by Tatenda Gondo