Toluwanimi Okemakinde has emerged winner of the first edition of the South-South National Chess Champion held on July 5, 2022 at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo.
Toluwanimi Okemakinde defeated Fide Master Kigigha Bomo in the final round to accumulate a total of eight points from a possible 9 to win the cash prize of one thousand Dollars.
Grandmaster Hesham Abdelraham from Eqypt came second with a total of seven and a half points to win the second cash prize of two hundred and fifty thousand Naira.
Speaking on the impact of the championship to the south-south region, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom Chess Association, Esio Oqu-ong Udoh says he believes that the effect of the championship will spring more chess tournaments to the region.
