Tennyson Olisa

Tennyson Ewomazino Olisa (born 2003) is a Nigerian chess player who holds the FIDE title of Candidate Master. He won the 2025 Nigeria National Chess Championships (Invitational Open) and won silver at the 2025 FIDE Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship, later winning the 2025 Africa Super Zonal Championship and qualifying for the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament.

Early life and education Tennyson is from Delta State, Nigeria.

Chess career

Awards In 2023, Tennyson won the John Fawole Chess Award for Junior Player of the Year (Boys).

Nigeria National Chess Championship Tennyson competed in the NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 (INVITATIONAL OPEN) and finished tied for first on points after eleven rounds, advancing to a championship playoff.

Round Opponent Result 1 FM Abdulrahman Abdulraheem Akintoye Loss 2 Odey Goodness Ekunke Win 3 Bartholomew Emmanuel Okhipo Win 4 FM Bomo Kigigha Loss 5 IM Oluwafemi Balogun Win 6 IM Odion Aikhoje Draw 7 FM Abiola Akinseye Win 8 FM Denyefa Callistus Eyetonghan Win (walkover/forfeit shown in tournament record) 9 Ajibola Olanrewaju Win 10 Tersee Ferdinand Nyuima Draw 11 Lucky Musa Keyi Win

He is the reigning Nigerian National Chess Champion.

In 2025, Tennyson won the Africa Super Zonal Championship with 7½/9 points, earning Africa’s qualification place for the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament.

FIDE Grand Swiss In 2025, Tennyson qualified for the FIDE Grand Swiss via the Africa continental spot; the Nigeria Chess Federation stated he was the first Nigerian to qualify for the event. 2023 – John Fawole Chess Award, Junior Player of the Year (Boys).

Notable games Win vs IM Mariano Ortega Amarelle (Zone 4.2 West Africa Championship, 2025)

Tennyson’s Round 7 win over the top seed was highlighted in FIDE’s Zone 4.2 tournament report.

Gallery

Ratings Tennyson’s peak standard rating is 2301 (January 2026).