CH: Good evening, David Nnabuike.
DN: Good evening sir.
CH: You won Chess Heights Anambra Monthly of March 2024. What do you say about that?
DN: First of all, I want to give all glory to God. He’s the giver of life and such opportunities really come by him and I am happy that it shows that the little training also comes in handy.
CH: What was your biggest challenge on your way to winning?
DN: A lot of my games were very interesting, all of them. But the one I feel was quite memorable was the one I played with joint first. The person I had joint first with that is Ogochukwu. Marshall gambit…, it was a very, very aggressive game, a very aggressive position. It was a matter of tempos. I had the extra tempo and I was able to convert to a win. So I think that was the most aggressive game I think I played throughout the tournament.
CH: Was that the first chess tournament you have been outright winner?
DN: I have played a lot of events, and I think the closest I’ve gotten to being the champion is second place. So, it’s been second place, second place. I think this is my first event that I’ve been in first place.
CH: You have severally attended Chess Heights Lagos Monthly, and now also Anambra monthly. How do you compare the two?
DN: In terms of organization, I would say the Lagos Chess Heights is the most organized I’ve seen so far. That’s due to the depth of experience that has been given to such establishment as regards with Anambra that is up and coming. Another thing I would say is time management. They are very keen to time. And another thing also is the sponsorship. They are very, very, encouraging. So you know that after the hard day’s work, the amount you’re going to get or receive as a prize, you know, is very, very compensating for an event well played.
CH: So what good thing can you say about Anambra now?
DN: One of the good things I love about Anambra is that Anambra is a place that is filled with opportunities unlike places like Lagos. I feel like the ecosystem of chess in Lagos is really saturated. We already have enough arbiters. We have enough players. We have enough IMs already in that area. So as we compare to Anambra, Anambra is a place that is developing. So people who can put in a very good investment here would get a very bountiful yield as regards to Lagos because here is a place that is rising.Are you getting my point sir?
CH: Yes. Yes.
DN: So as regards to other cities like Lagos, where you already know the superstars there, you know, the big dogs.
CH: What you’re saying is that there’s a lot of potential in Anambra?
DN: Yes, exactly! A lot of hidden people…, I met a lot of people that… They’re not rated, but they play really, really good games, like I’m surprised like, how have you been playing this well and the nation does not recognize you? Like there are a lot of raw talents that the country is yet to see, and they are found in places like an Anambra and other suburban places.
CH: Who are the strongest chess players that attend Chess Heights Anambra Monthly?
DN: I can not really say because I have not really been involved in Chess Heights Anambra Monthly.I think I’ve played only twice. This is my second time playing. But like I said before Anambra has a lot of potentials, especially the young ones. Playing with them is really, really encouraging. That’s what I can say. Everyone, everyone I played there wasn’t weak, there wasn’t any workover for me. I felt the impact of the game and also, with the character of everyone, they all have this champion spirit. Yeah, so I, I really, really appreciate that.
CH: Do you think you can win it again?
DN: I am looking way past winning Chess Heights now, as I also want to participate in much more bigger events. Uh, much more competitive events. But, on a scale of 1 to 10, I believe my confidence in winning the next one could be around 8.
CH: What is your major goal in chess?
DN: I actually got this goal from Magnus Carlsen when he beat the highest Fide record and they asked him what next is your goal? He said that my goal is to play good chess and encourage other chess players to do the same. So, I think that’s my goal, to just play good chess and encourage others to do the same. Uh, I believe I’m someone who has, um, who has a very good, a very good, um, a very good communication skill and chess helps me. Because I’ve met a lot of friends nationwide, spoke with a lot of people, interaction and the rest. So I believe this has gotten me opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten much elsewhere as regards to the game. So my goal is to just play good chess and for the love of the game.
CH: Do you think you can be a GM, a Grandmaster and when?
DN: That question isn’t just based on thoughts, there are other factors that need to be considered. I’ve spoken to a lot of experienced playersand they say there are so many factors that if they are in place it is very easy for a GM to be, to be gotten. So, I think the current factors being present in, in this state, most especially Anambra, I don’t think it’s likely possible for me. But by God’s grace, I’m also hoping to forward my academic degrees outside, where I can also pursue my, my dreams of becoming a titled player also. But as for GM, I, I am seeing that something based on fact, based on the factorial aspect, yes, I am not seeing any chances for now.
CH: What do you think of chess development in Anambra?
DN: Okay, so I think I’ve answered this indirectly so many times. I see chess in Anambra as a very strong initiative because there are a lot of rising potentials that the nation has not yet seen. A lot of unrated players, a lot of unrated players that can cause serious havoc if they are being pushed to the big scene. So, Anambra is a place filled with so many opportunities. Unlike other states now that is already saturated. That’s, that’s how I see Anambra.
CH: What do you think of chess development in Nigeria?
DN: Over the past few years chess development in Nigeria has taken a new turn. I appreciate the president and the vice president of Nigerian Chess Federation. I have met them individually and I have seen, I have seen a lot of good work being done. I have met the Chess in Slums CEO, Tunde Onakoya. I have met so many great chess players who have pushed the game to greater heights. I’ve met um, FIDE Master Callistus. I have met International Master Okeke Isaac. They are all pushing the game to a big thing. So, I believe that Nigeria is becoming a very strong force to reckon with. As we can also see at the current Africa Chess championship that is ongoing, where Nigeria has about two to three people that are also part of the rankings there. So I believe chess in Nigeria is also becoming a force to reckon with and with time, I believe it will get to greater heights.
CH: When do you expect Nigeria to produce a GM, a Grandmaster?
DN: I can’t say.
CH: Who do you expect to be Nigeria’s first homegrown Grandmaster?
DN: First, homegrown Grandmaster. It’s very, very unlikely a homegrown in the next five years. I believe the best way to produce a Grandmaster is to increase the factors that produces a GM, which Nigeria does not have, such as having players, multiple players that are above 2400 rating band, also inculcating more of Grandmaster tournaments. I don’t see a homegrown Nigerian Grandmaster in the next 5 years.
CH: Do you expect Anambra state to produce a GM?
DN: Um, no sir.
CH: Who is your favorite Nigerian chess player and why?
DN: My favorite Nigerian chess player should be CM Onokpite Kennedy. Because I like his calm style of play. I played him once at the Southeast Zonal Chess Championship and he had so much experience. He got a position where I was actually winning and he was so calm, where he was also winning at some points and he was still calm, and where it was drawn, he was still calm. So like, he had this calm, this calm attitude that he’s not moved facially by the result of the game. Whether he wins or loses or anything, I, I really, really enjoyed having that kind of game with him. And also, he was a very competitive, I think, he’s a very competitive person. He goes for the kill easily. I like other Nigerian chess players too, I love, I love each and every single one of them. But that attitude of, of, um, of a silent assassin is something that I really, I really like about him.
CH: Who is your favorite chess player, any where, any era, and why?
DN: Okay, my favorite chess player, I think I have for the modern and the old.
So, the old chess player, my favorite is Jacob Aagaard. He’s also a chess coach. His level of analysis on games are something that you can draw a lot of knowledge from. Because those were the days where engines were relatively scarce and you could see a chess player flow from his well of thoughts. So he had the deep fact of analysis about certain positions that I have learned from and have improved over the years. So my modern favourite chess player would be Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Because he’s this kind of, he’s this ferocious player. No matter how hard the game goes, he is always at his best form.
CH: What new developments will you like to see in the Nigeria chess scene?
DN: I will like to see more of competitive chess in the eastern and northern parts of Nigeria. One of the things I’ve realised leaving Lagos and coming here is that people who are in Lagos where the competitive chess is mostly based is they have this avalanche of experience they can draw from in games so if competitive tournaments can be held in the eastern and northern part, it’ll, it’ll create like a balance for other players to strive to become better in other parts of the country.
CH: Any last words for our readers?
DN: Okay, so I believe one of the things that has kept me on this journey, because I faced a lot of challenges and disappointments on the road to improvement is to take things one day at a time. Life doesn’t happen by chance, it happens in processes, so take one day at a time and you will see the reward in due season.
