The
Gambia chess national team recently returned from the 42nd chess Olympiad in
Baku Azerbaijan.
A
five-man delegation headed by the Gambia Chess Federation president Amadou
Jallow left Banjul on 3 September and arrived in Baku on 4 September 2016.
Members
of the delegation included the 1st vice president Sasuna Mbaye, who also
doubles as team captain, Ebrima Bah alias Kuru boy, Modou Lamin Sowe and
Ousainou Garba as players.
During
the three-week championship the Gambian team made “great performances” despite
their late arrival for the competition.
The
Gambia’s best chess player Ebrima Bah, commonly known as Kuru boy, made
significant achievement by becoming the only second player to achieve the FIDE
Master (FM) title in the sub-region.
Modou
Lamin Sowe and Ousainou Garber both bagged candidate master (CM).
Amadou
Jallow, president of the Gambia chess federation, while in Baku attended the
FIDE general assembly where the international body presented its reports to the
delegates for deliberations.
The
1st vice president, Sasuna Mbaye, who was team captain, attended a seminar
course and was awarded a developmental instructor certificate.
Meanwhile, the Gambia Chess Federation congratulated the team for their heroic performance during the competition and thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their support during the team’s travelling as well as the National Sports Council and the GNOC for their unflinching support.
The
federation also congratulated and commended their international chief arbiter
David Segwich for his “great support” and technical advice to the federation
and team before and during the tournament.
The
Gambia’s FIDE rating has improved from 166th to 61st out of 180 FIDE member
countries.
