A student of Landmark College, Nwankwo Michelle Chiamaka, has emerged champion at the 2025 Africa Youths Chess Championship held from December 6 to 15 in Harare, Zimbabwe, following a commanding performance in the Under-12 Girls category. Representing Nigeria, Chiamaka finished the tournament with an outstanding score of 8.5 points out of a possible 9, remaining unbeaten throughout the competition.
The continental championship, organized under the auspices of African chess bodies and hosted in Harare, brought together the finest young chess talents from across the continent. Competing against top-rated peers, Chiamaka won all her games and recorded just one draw, a dominant run that clearly set her apart from the rest of the field.
Reacting to the historic victory, Chiamaka’s mother described the achievement as the fulfilment of years of quiet preparation and sacrifice. “I feel so elated. So happy this dream we have held and nurtured for some years now has finally come to be,” she said. “It’s a silent project we have been on with the coaches for some time now, and I am so grateful that her consistency and hard work have been crowned mightily with a success this huge. I am just so happy.”
Chiamaka’s impressive outing at the championship earned her more than just a gold medal. She was crowned Champion of the U12 Girls category, secured the prestigious Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title, and also gained automatic qualification with personal rights to compete at the 2026 World Youth Chess Championship, marking a significant milestone in her young chess career.
Nigeria recorded a strong overall showing at the tournament, with six players representing the country. Three of them finished on the podium.
Another competitor, Jason Nwankwo, Chiamaka’s younger brother, competed in the Under-10 category. Jason scored 6 points out of a possible 9, finishing 9th out of 63 players, an impressive performance that further highlighted the depth of talent within Nigeria’s youth chess ranks and the remarkable chess pedigree of the Nwankwo siblings.
He went through the entire championship without losing a single game but narrowly missed out on a podium finish due to a high number of drawn games.
Speaking after her triumph, Chiamaka expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her journey. “I want to thank my parents, the sponsors and everybody that has supported me.”
Chiamaka’s success at the Africa Youths Chess Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, once again underscores the rising profile of Nigeria’s young chess players and reinforces optimism about the future of the sport in the country.
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