Nigeria’s Sandra Osarugue Omoruyi has emerged as the Female Champion of the inaugural 2026 FIDE World Amateur Rapid Chess Championship, finishing as the highest-performing woman in the Open section of the tournament held at the Bolton White Event Hall in Abuja.
Omoruyi scored 6 points from 11 rounds to finish 17th overall, securing the women’s title in a championship that attracted amateur players from several countries and marked the first edition of the FIDE World Amateur Rapid Championship.
Her impressive performance adds to Nigeria’s outstanding outing at the event, which also saw 14-year-old Odey Goodness Ekunke crowned the overall World Amateur Rapid Champion after finishing with 8½/11 to become the inaugural title holder.
The championship, jointly organised by the Nigeria Chess Federation and FIDE, featured an 11-round Swiss-system rapid tournament played with a 15-minute time control plus a 10-second increment. It brought together players from Africa, Asia and beyond, with competitors battling for world honours and a share of the prize fund.
FIDE’s competition regulations allowed female players to compete for both the overall title and the women’s prize, paving the way for Omoruyi to claim the Female World Amateur Rapid crown through her strong overall finish.
With Ekunke and Omoruyi claiming the overall and female titles respectively, Nigeria celebrated a memorable home championship, underlining the country’s growing influence in international chess as Abuja successfully hosted the inaugural edition of the prestigious event.
Photo: Nigeria Chess Federation