Interview: Meet (FM) Bunmi Olape

He is arguably the friendliest of all Nigeria’s chess internationals and has one of the the "wildest" playing styles amongst them . He is quite popular and quite successful as regards chess in Nigeria. He is one of the finest (Current Fide rating : 2263 Highest ever Rating :2304 July 2004) in the country. He is generous, respectful l, and of good character. Some call him “Bumzo”; while majority call him “The Undertaker”. He is Bunmi Olape. Our roving correspondent Demola Sorungbe caught up with him in Lagos recently. Here are excerpts.  

Can you please introduce yourself?
Bunmi Olape: My name is Olape Olubunmi. I’m from Ondo state; southwestern Nigeria. I’m a member of the national chess team of Nigeria.

When did you start playing?
Bunmi Olape: I started playing chess in 1991 and the same year I played my 1st tournament, which was the Secondary School Sport Championship. I won a gold medal on board one, playing for Lagos state . This tournament actually spurred me on to continue with the game. Before then I was involved in Martial Arts (Taekwando).

Who introduced you to the game?
Bunmi Olape: Actually, my elder brother (Femi Olape) introduced me to chess. In fact, I will say he was my first coach. Initially I viewed it as a boring game and coupled with the kind of music he listened to while playing chess (Jazz) it made it very uninteresting. One day, out of curiosity I decided to find out what made them (My brother and his friends) spend so much time on a staring at a board. And the rest .......

Tell us about your education
Bunmi Olape: I attended Government Demonstration Primary School and later changed to Community Primary School, Surulere, Lagos. I went on to Lagos City College for my secondary education, and then proceeded to the University of Ilorin, Kwara state; from where I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Geography.

How will you describe your ascent to the top of Nigerian chess?
Bunmi Olape: I feel I was quite lucky. I was in the opens section for a year and a half before I moved into the masters section and In my first tournament tie for second place (Indeed I think I ought to have won). That made me the first player ever to move from the opens into the masters and put up such a performance. It was this feat that gave birth to the name “The Under Taker” meaning that, I came from “Under”- i.e. the opens section, to “Take” second in the masters category.

What can you say about chess in Nigeria; then, when you started, and now?
Bunmi Olape: We used to have quite a number of tournaments way back, but unfortunately they have all gone into limbo due to lack of sponsorship.
Despite the drought of tournaments, Nigerian players have been distinguishing themselves at tournaments both within and outside the shores of the country, though the federation will need to do more for chess to become a household sport in the country.
I will suggest school sports should be revived.
The lack of tournaments in the country is appalling. Without tournaments there is no way to harness the abundant talent that we have. I have seen quite a few youngsters in the country that are good, but have no avenue to showcase their talent and test their chess playing strength. I will blame the drought of tournaments mainly on the economic situation of the country, which has made it a difficult task to get sponsorships, and also partly on our chess federation.

How has the All Africa games camp in Kaduna been?
Bunmi Olape: The camp life in Kaduna has been quite eventful for the most part , though, I have to say, the physical exercise has been quite stressful but, useful. We wake at 5am for d morning devotion and prepare 4 the morning exercise by 5.30.  This will take us till 7am, after which we’ll freshen up and get ready for breakfast, which is usually bread, yam or potato with egg sauce and tea. There are 2 sessions of chess training each day. The morning session starts by 9am and ends by 12noon, while the evening session commences by 5pm till around 7pm.
The accommodation has been okay, though occasionally NEPA/PHCN ‘strikes’. Feeding has been superb, however, I think the allowance could be better.

So the organization has been perfect so far.....
Bunmi Olape: I will say it has been near perfect, though we still need a lot to assist us in our preparation for the games proper.

Tell us about the trials proper, What was the format?
Bunmi Olape: It was a single round robin event involving 13 players for the male players and 12 for the female players. I took 2nd place with Bayo Adegboyega coming 1st. The players played their best making it a very strong tourney . Most players developed, overnight, IM strength of 2400! This made it very competitive. But at the end of the tourney only 10 players made the team, 3 were dropped in the male section and 2 in the female section.

What is your present FIDE rating? Are you titled yet?
Bunmi Olape: My present FIDE rating is 2263 and I got an FM title after my performance at the last African individual chess championship. Though not yet confirmed; pending the time the federation makes a formal application to the world chess governing body.

What advice do you have for younger players that are trying to combine chess and academics since you have been there before?
Bunmi Olape: I must confess that it takes a lot of discipline to be able to combine both academics and chess. Chess on its own is an academic field.
If the ethics of chess studying is adapted to the academic field, chess players will always excel!
I will advice the younger ones to plan their schedule well, knowing when to study chess and when to attend lectures and study. They should not let anything hinder them when it’s time to study. It’s by proper planning and discipline.

Do you think chess can be played professionally in Nigeria?
Bunmi Olape: Playing it professionally in Nigeria? Hmmm! I will say no for now, but hopefully sometime in the future. Involvment in other chess activities like coaching/organizing chess clinics is gradually gaining ground in the country and with introduction of chess in to the curriculum of certain schools,, quite a few chess players are getting jobs and some are well paid.

How can Nigerian chess players step-up their level play?
Bunmi Olape: Being focused is very important. They have to know how to achieve results.  This involves practice; which can be done by studying chess books, going to the internet to surf for latest innovations in chess, computer softwares (if available; but not a determinant for success), and testing your skills against stronger oppositions. All these will help in improving their playing strength.

  Olympiad 2006: Focusing before a game     A 'friendly' game of blitz with Robert Asibor

What makes you stand out from other Nigerian chess players?
Bunmi Olape: Originality!!

Are you thinking of a GM title?
Bunmi Olape: I believe to achieve the enviable GM title requires a lot of money. This will be used in getting a coach, attending tournaments (FIDE rated) with the accommodation and feeding inclusive, and globetrotting the chess playing centers of the world.
I believe if I get a little out of the above needs mentioned I can make it within a year!!

Do you see a Nigerian become a GM in the next 5years?
Bunmi Olape: To be candid with you, I believe the top five players with me inclusive in Nigeria can make the title in 1 year, if the resources to do so are within their reach.

What is your most memorable chess moment ?
Bunmi Olape: My most memorable moment so far is winning a Gold medal at the last All Africa games(2003). My 2 most memorable games, coincidentally, were during the chess Olympiad in Slovenia where I defeated IM Roselli Malihe of Uruguay with a rating of 2400+ and  drew with Alexander Baburin of Ireland with a rating 2500+.
I believe I have not reached my peak yet. To me the sky is the level; because greater achievements are still coming for the UNDERTAKER!!

In which tournaments have you represented Nigeria?
Bunmi Olape: I started representing Nigeria as far back as 1998. My first was at the NEPA International Tournament; of which I played in the FIDE section and placed joint 2nd! Subsequent ones are the Chess Olympiads in Elista, Kalmyk (Russia) 1998, Bled, (Slovenia) 2002, Mallorca, (Spain) 2004, Torino (Italy) 2006. The All Africa games in Abuja, (Nigeria) 2003 and some tournaments in Germany during the training tour in preparation for the All Africa games in 2003 are notable ones too.

          Another 'friendly' at the Olympiad.             The Undertaker on a training tour in Germany

I thank you for spending your time with ChessHeights....
Bunmi Olape: It’s a pleasure.

...and we wish you success in your endeavors.
Bunmi Olape: Thank you very much.