Introductions

January’s edition of Chess height Kaduna was a resounding success as players gathered in the northern city to Battle it out on the board. It was a stacked event with seven rated players participating in the Rapid tournaments. Two players rated above 1900, Damian Joshua and Olamilekan and three other players above 1800. Overall, it was a stacked field in Kaduna similar to how other players gather to play across Nigeria on the same day. 

The Early rounds

Round one went relatively as expected, with favorites winning their boards. With the only draw coming for that round coming from board five in Ola Elijah vs. Suleiman Abdulasalam’s game.

Going into the second round, things got spicy as Muhammad Umar Badeko (1811), who many Nigerian players might recognize from his online chessdotcom profile, UmarBadeko, defeated top seed, Damian, with white. 

In the same round, unrated female player Funshi Precious defeated Aaron Ikechi Anderson (1855), throwing the tournament wide open for all.

The third round again got heated up as unrated Funsho Previous Funmilayo defeated Muhammad Umar Badeko (1811) on board one. Another upset happened on board 5 as unrated Suleiman Haruna defeated Aaron Ikechi Anderson(1855)

Later rounds 

Round 4 had Ola Elijah Praise (1743) with 2 points facing an undefeated Funsho Precious Funmilayo who had been impressive so far on board one. The more experienced player came out on top in their match. Damian Joshua (1932) defeated Adebo Samuel Ogirima on the second board as black and after the fourth round, five players were on 3 points.

By the fifth round, the tournament was still a close chase until the 6th round where Oyewopo Olamilekan and Damian Joshua both led with four points and met for the game for the title.

They drew and a draw guaranteed the top spots as no one else was on 3.5 or close enough to catch them in the lead.

The event ended with a three way tie for shared third with Adebo Samuel Ogirima, Ola Elijah Praise and Suleiman Abdusamad.

Full tournament Standings can be found here.

Interview with one of the Co-champion 

After the event, I was able to catch up with one of the two champions who had some interesting thing to share in our interview.

BD: This isn’t tournament-related, but I remember seeing you looking to play against opponents rated above 2150 on Chess.com in a chess group. Do you usually seek out stronger opponents? How do these games help you improve?  

Damian Joshua: Yes, I actively seek stronger opponents. Playing against stronger players is the fastest way for me to improve. If I were in a room with 10 players, all stronger than me, and I played them often, I believe that over time, I would become the strongest. I thrive on positive competition.

BD: What was the toughest game you played in the tournament, and how did you overcome the challenge?

Damian Joshua: My toughest game was in Round 4 against Samuel Abedo. I overcame the challenge because I told myself there was no way I was going to lose. Even if I dropped a piece, I was determined to win

BD: How did it feel to co-win the tournament? And is there anything you’d like to see improved in future editions?  

Damian Joshua: Winning felt great, especially as a junior. Since it was my second time, I wasn’t really overwhelmed. For future editions, I’d just like them to stick to the scheduled start time. I’m very time-conscious.  

BD: What does your chess training routine look like? How do you balance online study with over-the-board (OTB) play?  

Damian Joshua: My training is honestly terrible—I’m quite lazy in that regard. But I do study by reading chess books and analyzing games. I often download grandmaster games and go through them. For OTB training, I rely on printed books since I don’t have the luxury of playing OTB regularly.  

BD: What are your long-term chess goals? Do you aspire to achieve titles like FM or GM?  

Damian Joshua: First, I want to become National Champion. Tersee is a good friend of mine, so it would be nice to do him the honor of dethroning him. And yes, I will definitely achieve GM status.  

BD: Any final thoughts for chess fans?  

Damian Joshua: Be your biggest fan. Stay prepared for the opportunities you pray for. Stay humble. And most importantly, enjoy chess.

Final Words 

The January edition of Chess Heights Kaduna was a thrilling event that highlighted the depth of talent in Nigeria’s chess community. Co-winners Oyewopo Olamilekan and Damian Joshua both played brilliantly, showing skill, focus, and determination to rise above a stacked field. Olamilekan’s consistent performance solidified his place among the top players, while Damian’s powerful showing further cemented his status as one of the country’s brightest young talents.

Though we could only catch up with Damian Joshua for an interview, his reflections on his journey were insightful. His ambition to dethrone Nigeria’s National Champion, Tersee, and his plans for the future are clear—Damian is determined to push himself to the next level, and his victory here is just one step toward achieving his ultimate goals.

Chess Heights Kaduna once again proved to be a showcase of talents, and as the tournament continues to grow, it’s clear that the future of Nigerian chess is in good hands. We’ll be keeping an eye on these rising stars as they continue their chess journey.

The co-champion outcome at Chess Heights Kaduna brings to mind the 2021 World Rapid and Blitz Championships, where Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi ended up sharing the title. Much like Magnus and Ian’s intense rivalry, Oyewopo Olamilekan and Damian Joshua’s co-victory at this event showed the close competition between two top players. Their shared win adds a layer of excitement and anticipation, with both players now ready to make an impact on the national chess scene, much like Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi did at the highest level.

More pictures from the tournament below