12-year-old Maxwell of Raddai Metropolitan School, Jalingo, becomes the first to be crowned champion in the three months camp that involved over fifty kids.
Chinechendum Ferdinand was the first runner up with Mathew the second runner up.
Maxwell received a medal and T-shirts as prizes and a certificate of participation.
The Boot camp was organised by
Chess for Growth Development Foundation in collaboration with Taraba State Chess Association.
The children were trained by volunteer Chess coaches every Saturday and at the end of every class, a mini tournament where selected children were paired to play 2 – 3 rounds.
Players earned 1 point for a win, 0.5 for a draw and 0 for a loss while the top 10 players are recognized at the end.
All the children were issued certificates of participation and the first 20 participants were also given customized shirts with the first three given medals.
Maxwell’s father, Sule Ubandoma, popularly known as ‘Big Fish’ an ardent Chess player and follower, praised the Foundation for the Boot camp and urged other organisations to key into such programmes to help develop Chess in Taraba State and Nigeria.
He told Apex News Exclusive that the government can encourage the kids by sponsoring them to participate in competitions outside the state.
