The July edition of the Chess Heights Plateau Monthly Rapid concluded after six rounds packed with tactical battles, decisive results, and a few surprises. Held in Jos, Plateau State, the tournament followed a Swiss format with a 20+10 rapid time control, drawing both seasoned players and promising new faces.
Top Performers and other Key Highlights
- Danjuma Nathaniel stormed through the early rounds with four straight wins, including victories over Fuenshak Othman and Musa Naomi. A loss in the final round cost him the top spot, but his run was commanding.
- Fuenshak Othman bounced back from his Round 4 loss to finish strongly, securing key points in Rounds 5 and 6 to close at the top with 5/6.
- Ayuba Beneche Daniel quietly delivered one of the most consistent performances, also finishing on 5/6, including a strong final-round win over Naomi.
- Durkwa John Reuben similarly tied for first place with a score of 5/6 losing only to Ukosso Emmanuel Kasse in the third round.
- Keyi Lucky Musa had a solid tournament with 4.5/6, showing resilience with a final-round win over Blaise Ifeanyi. He later followed that days later up by winning the North Central Zonal Chess Championship with an astounding 7.5/8, making it clear he’s still in top shape.
- From the unrated pool, Sunday Nathaniel Chenka impressed with a 4-point finish before tapering off, while ISA Nuhu Gabakau and Oluwaponle Kudehinbu had impressive wins against higher-rated players, showing just how competitive chess is Plateau has become.
What It Means
This edition showed that Plateau is no longer a quiet corner of Nigerian chess—it’s a proving ground. With young talents pushing boundaries and familiar names battling for form, there’s no easy game.
What’s Next?
With August coming up, attention turns to whether Keyi Lucky Musa can build on his dominant regional win and challenge for the Plateau crown, or whether the likes of Othman, Ayuba, or Nathaniel and Durkwa will reassert their dominance.
One thing is clear, Chess Heights Plateau in August is going to be a battleground
