By Ayomide Otitoju
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has opened the Royal Rapid Chess Classic 2026 as part of activities marking his 10th coronation anniversary.
The tournament commenced on Saturday at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City, Edo State, with 126 players from across the country participating in the competition.
As part of the opening ceremony, the monarch played a symbolic game against eight-year-old chess prodigy Emmanuella Omoragbon, a Primary Three pupil. The exhibition match ended with the Oba capturing the young player’s bishop.
Impressed by her chess skills, the monarch announced that Emmanuella would become a child of the palace, pledging to support her education, welfare and chess development.
“This child is now a child of the palace. From now on, I want the palace to monitor the progress of the little girl: how she is doing with chess, her education and her welfare,” the Oba said.
He added that the palace would take responsibility for her needs and urged her parents to inform him of any challenges affecting her development.
The monarch also announced additional royal prizes for the tournament winners, including souvenirs made from Benin bronze, to be presented at the grand finale scheduled for November 21, 2026.
At the ceremony, Oba Ewuare II presented ₦2 million as a royal gift to participating players and visiting students of Edo College. He also gave ₦250,000 to Mrs Doris Omoragbon, the young chess player’s mother.
Mrs Omoragbon, a national chess champion and senior player with the Edo State Sports Commission, expressed gratitude for the monarch’s gesture.
Following the opening ceremony at the palace, the competition moved to the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub on Airport Road, Benin City, where the players gathered for the tournament.
Participants represented several states, including Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and host Edo State.
The tournament coordinator and chess promoter, Augustine Apemiye, commended the Oba for including chess in his anniversary programme.
Apemiye disclosed that organisers were seeking approval to establish the Oba Ewuare II Chess Club to train children at the palace and identify promising young players.
According to the organisers, the competition features several categories, with cash prizes for winners.
In the Open Category, the overall winner will receive ₦350,000, while the second- and third-place finishers will get ₦250,000 and ₦150,000, respectively. Players finishing between fourth and 10th positions will receive ₦50,000 each. The best Edo indigene and best veteran will also receive ₦50,000 apiece.
In the Under-20 categories for men and women, the first-, second- and third-place winners will receive ₦100,000, ₦80,000 and ₦50,000, respectively.
Under-14 winners will receive ₦30,000, ₦20,000 and ₦10,000, while the Under-10 category offers ₦25,000 for first place, ₦15,000 for second and ₦10,000 for third.
The Royal Rapid Chess Classic 2026 forms part of activities celebrating Oba Ewuare II’s 10 years on the throne and is aimed at promoting chess, encouraging intellectual development and supporting young talents.
