14-Year-Old Bayelsa Chess Star Wins World Championship in Abuja

(Goodness Ekunke. Photo by Nation News)

A 14-year-old chess prodigy from Bayelsa State has captured the World Rapid Amateur Chess Championship held in Abuja, triumphing over competitors from multiple nations.

Goodness Ekunke began his chess training in Yenagoa nine years ago under FIDE Master Kigigha Bomo, who has guided his development since childhood and identifies him as among the state’s most gifted young players.

Ekunke clinched the title by drawing with fellow Nigerian FM Eugene Unwana in the concluding round.

Unwana secured the silver medal with 8½ points, whilst FM Bomo Kigigha claimed bronze also on 8½ points through tie-break resolution.

The tournament employed rapid time controls of 15 minutes with a 10-second increment per move.

Seventeen-year-old Sambo Joseph distinguished himself as a standout competitor, defeating the tournament leader Ekunke in round eight and earlier triumphing over Kigigha before adding a round-nine victory over India’s AIM Sahil Shejal.

Consecutive defeats in rounds ten and eleven to Unwana and Lanre Oluwalasinu derailed his title pursuit, culminating in fourth place on 7½ points.

Unwana’s momentum accelerated in the closing stages, with victories over Kigigha in round nine and Sambo in round ten positioning him within contention before Ekunke sealed the championship with the final-round draw.

Prior to this triumph, Ekunke established a substantial domestic record, claiming gold at the 2022 National Sports Festival and two silver medals at the 2024 edition.

At the National Youth Games, he secured one gold and one silver in 2022, two golds in 2023 and three golds in 2025.

At the Niger Delta Sports Festival, he won two golds and one silver at the inaugural edition and three golds at the 2026 edition.

Ekunke earned selection to Nigeria’s senior national chess team earlier this year through national competition and is scheduled to represent the country at the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September, alongside teammate Ebimobo-Ere Deborah and coach Bomo.