International Master, Bunmi Olape has beaten some of the best players in the country to emerge winner of the maiden Millionaire Chess Festival that was rounded up in Lagos early in the week.

For this feat, Olape, a veteran of several international chess tournaments, has won an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas, USA. He will make the trip in October 2015.

With a total of $1,000,000 in prizes, the Millionaire Chess Festival is the highest-paying open chess tournament in history. The second edition is scheduled for 8-12 October, 2015 in Las Vegas, USA.

Bunmi Olape

A major setback by inform Eugene Uwana in his final game of the event after commiting a blunder against Lapite Oluwadurotimi ensured Olape’s victory at the Lagos tournament. Olape profited from this game has he secured a win against Femi Adeshina to level on seven points with Lapite.

In the ensuing playoff, an equivalent of penalty shoot out in football, both players drew the first game but Olape won the reversed game to earn the Las Vegas Millionaire tournament ticket.

“I am delighted to be back to form and ready to dominate the national chess scene again. It was not an easy task for me because I started badly in the opening rounds but happy to return to wining way. “

However, many chess pundits were pained that the new sensation on the scene, Uwana could not win the festival in spite of his brilliant outings in all recent tournaments.

The young prodigy just needed to win the his last game against Lapite to win the tournament but blundered to a lost and gave his opponent the chance to go into play off against the eventual winner, Olape.

170 players participated in different categories of play in 4-day tournament held at the Chevron Event Centre, Gbagada, Lagos.

The President of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), Mr. Lekan Adeyemi, commended the Millionaire Chess company that promotes chess and organises global chess tournaments. The organisation conducted the first Millionaire Chess Open tournament which was held in Las Vegas, USA last year.

The tournament provides opportunities for chess players from African Federation, the Kasparov Chess Foundation in partnership with the organiser agreed to provide full sponsorship to the tune of $5000 each to the three winners of the Millionaire events.