Defending champions Uzbekistan retained the Open title while China won the women’s crown at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, as Nigeria finished outside the top 80 in both sections on Sunday.
Uzbekistan topped the Open standings with 20 match points after winning 10 of their 11 matches. India finished with 18 points to take silver, while Germany also ended on 18 points but claimed bronze on tie-break.
In the women’s event, China went unbeaten to secure the title with 20 match points from nine wins and two draws. Kazakhstan placed second with 18 points and India took bronze with 17.
Nigeria’s Open team ended 118th overall with 10 match points from five wins and six losses, gathering 21 game points across the 11 rounds. The team started with victories but lost momentum in the middle of the tournament, including a 4-0 defeat to Vietnam in Round 6.
They bounced back with key wins, including a 3.5-0.5 victory over Tunisia in Round 9, but suffered another 4-0 loss to North Macedonia in Round 10 before their final fixture against Hong Kong.
Nigeria lost narrowly 2.5-1.5 to Hong Kong in the last round, with Bomo Lovet Kigigha earning the team’s only win. Odion Aikhoje and Bartholomew Okhipo lost their games while the fourth board was drawn. Abdulrahman Akintoye and Odey Goodness Ekunke led Nigeria in the Open with 5.5 points each.
The women’s team finished 85th with 11 match points from four wins, three draws and four defeats, totaling 24 game points. They closed strongly in the penultimate round with a 3-1 win over Guatemala, with wins from Deborah Quickpen, Iyefu Onoja and Sandra Omuruyi.
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