2018 MindGames Chess champion, Abdulraheem Akintoye said he took a break from active Law practice to focus on Chess.
Akintoye told www.aclsports.com that 2018 has been a year of success for him as he defeated International Masters.
The Oyo born player said he fell in love with Chess when he discovered that playing well required a lot of reading and learning.
He said, “I took a break from active law practice to focus on chess for a bit. I am also doing a Master’s degree but it’s not too difficult to combine that with chess.
“The year 2018 has been awesome, it’s been a year of successes for me, but, hopefully this is a prelude to even greater things. I did not only win the 2018 MindGames Premier Championship, I also beat International Masters players like; I beat IM Bunmi Olape, IM Aikhoje Odion, IM Oladapo Adu and IM Femi Balogun”.
Akintoye said, “It feels good doing well against the brightest chess minds in Nigeria (it) is an indication that I am doing something right. I am encouraged and inspired by my victories. I look forward to running into even more difficult opponents on the international scene.
On how he fell in Love with Chess, Akintoye said, “I started playing in Ilorin when I saw some of my neighbours playing. I fell in love with the game when I discovered that playing well required a lot of reading and learning.
“I wasn’t inspired by any of the greats initially, but as time went on, I grew fond of Fisher and Kasparov. Recently, I have acquired a better appreciation for the subtlety and depth of Vladimir Kramnik’s play too”.
Abdulraheem Akintoye won a Team Bronze at the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Abuja.
