Bomo Kigigha

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Bomo Kigigha
Bomokigigha (cropped).jpg
Personal information
BornBomo Loveth Kigigha
(1982-09-26) 26 September 1982 (age 43)
Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Chess career
Country Nigeria
Title FIDE Master (2016)
Peak rating 2363 (February 2016)

Bomo Lovet Kigigha, (born 26 September, 1982 [1] ) is a Nigerian FIDE Master and a 4 time Nigerian champion. He is Nigeria's fourth-highest rated player as of November, 2023 (behind Anwuli Daniel, Adebayo Adegboyega Joel, and Balogun Oluwafemi Daniel), with an Elo rating of 2251. [2]

Contents

Early life

Kigigha is the third child out of eight children of Sir and Lady Loveth Kigigha. He is the younger brother of Imino Kigigha [3] who he drew inspiration from while growing up in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Chess Career

After his Olympiad debut in 2008 [4] in Dresden, Germany, Kigigha has participated six more times: 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey (Team Nigeria had a podium finish by winning category E [5] ), 2014 in Tromso, Norway, [6] 2016 in Baku, Azerbaijan, [7] 2018 in Batumi, Georgia, [8] 2022 in Chennai, India, [9] and 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. [10]

In 2025, Kigigha competed in the FIDE World Cup in Goa, India, where he was defeated in the first round by German Grandmaster Alexander Donchenko, who later reached the quarterfinals. [11] [12]

Chess Development Initiatives

Kigigha operates the C-4 Chess Academy in Yenagoa and has been involved in youth chess development programs. He partnered with the Queens Chess Club in Yenagoa to empower girls through chess initiatives. [13] [14]

Kigigha has mentored several chess prodigies including Goodness Ekunke, nicknamed "Baby-faced Assassin," who represented Africa in the Next Gen Cup organized by Chess.com, [15] and Deborah Quickpen who represented Nigeria at the Chess Olympiad alongside him. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Abali_Jay (10 June 2023). "Kigigha Bomo Lovet – Chess National Champion". Bayelsa State Sports Council. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  2. ↑ GmbH, ChessBase. "Bomo Kigigha player profile". ChessBase Players. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. ↑ https://ratings.fide.com/profile/8500959
  4. ↑ "Dresden Olympiad (2008)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  5. ↑ https://allafrica.com/stories/201209110644.html
  6. ↑ "- Nigeria selected players for Chess Olympiad in Tromsø". Chess Daily News by Susan Polgar. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  7. ↑ Chess.com (News) (28 September 2016). "The Nigerian Team At The Baku Chess Olympiad". Chess.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "10 Nigerian Players for Chess Olympiad". Premium Times. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Team Nigeria's Players Set for World Chess Olympiad in India - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Aikigbe, Godwin (15 September 2024). "Team Nigeria depart for FIDE Chess Olympiad". Punch. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "FIDE World Cup 2025: India to host chess spectacle in Goa". The Indian Express. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  12. ↑ "FIDE World Cup 2025 Results". FIDE. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  13. ↑ "Youngsters shine in chess competition in Yenagoa". Newwaves.ng. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Bayelsa FIDE Masters empower girls through chess initiative in Yenagoa". Sports247.ng. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  15. ↑ "Africans at the Next Gen Cup by Chess.com". Africa Chess Media. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "Chess Olympiad: Quickpen proud to represent Nigeria alongside mentor". Punch. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.