RismadarVoice Reporters
September 16, 2026
Sixteen-year-old Nigerian chess player, Sandra Omoruyi, has set her sights on becoming a Grandmaster after winning the World Rapid Amateur Chess Championship in Abuja in August.
Omoruyi said the victory had strengthened her confidence and broadened her ambitions in the sport, with her immediate focus now on achieving the required title norms and contributing to Nigeria’s success at the Chess Olympiad.
The young player, who comes from a family of chess enthusiasts, was introduced to the game by her father, who also served as her first coach. Her siblings subsequently helped her learn how to record chess moves before she began training under her current coach, Edward Eguavoe Evbuomwan, popularly known as Coach Eddy.
Omoruyi said winning the Most Valuable Player award at the last Youth Games marked a major turning point in her career.
According to her, the achievement convinced her that she could compete at a higher level and encouraged her to pursue major international titles.
Her development, however, has been affected by challenges including the cost of travelling to tournaments, long distances and security concerns.
She recalled being nervous when she participated in her first major competition, the National Chess Championship, but said the experience eventually helped build her confidence.
Omoruyi also revealed that her preparation for major competitions can involve between 10 and 16 hours of training in a day.
She said her sessions typically begin around 9 or 10 a.m. and can extend into the night, with breaks for school, meals and other responsibilities.
On particularly demanding training days, she said she could continue until 2 or 3 a.m., especially when playing practice games against chess engines ahead of the Olympiad.
Her preparation for the World Rapid Amateur Championship included intensive Rapid and Blitz exercises, tactical puzzles and practice games designed to improve her ability to make accurate decisions under time pressure.
Omoruyi said she faced a major setback during the Blitz event after losing her first three games.
She said her coach advised her to clear her mind and approach the remaining matches one at a time, a strategy that helped her recover and begin winning.
The comeback, she said, reinforced the importance of resilience in chess and taught her that a poor start does not necessarily determine the outcome of a competition.
Reflecting on her championship victory, Omoruyi said she experienced a mixture of disbelief, joy and relief before thanking God and acknowledging the support of her family and coach.
She said winning the title also made her proud to represent Nigeria and motivated her to pursue greater achievements.
“Before, I was just a player with potential. Now I know I can compete and win at the world level,” Omoruyi said.
She added that her long-term objective is to become a Grandmaster, represent Nigeria and Africa internationally, and help the country achieve success at the Chess Olympiad.
Beyond chess, Omoruyi plans to pursue a career in medicine.
She said she hopes to become a medical doctor, contribute to her community and inspire more young girls to take up chess.
The teenager also credited her family for helping her balance her education, chess training and personal responsibilities, saying planning and discipline had been essential to managing the demands of both school and competitive chess.
For Omoruyi, the World Rapid Amateur Championship represents a significant milestone, but she insists that it is only the beginning of her pursuit of higher honours in chess and her ambition to become a medical doctor.
