My chess goals grew after winning World Rapid amateur title, Omoruyi

At just 16, Nigerian chess player Sandra Omoruyi is setting her sights higher after winning the World Rapid Amateur Chess Championship in Abuja in August. In this chat with EBENEZER BAJELA, she shares her journey, sacrifices, training, and dreams in chess and medicine.

I come from a chess family. My dad, mum, and siblings all play chess, so my dad was my first coach. My siblings taught me how to record moves until I met my current coach, Edward Eguavoe Evbuomwan, known as Coach Eddy. Many others helped me grow too. I can't mention everyone, but they include Coach Ann, Coach Marian, Coach Ben, Coach Illoba, Coach Nosa, and Coach Segun. When I won the MVP at the last Youth Games, I was just playing to learn and enjoy the game. After that event, I started thinking, "Maybe I can actually do this at the highest level." That moment gave me the confidence to take chess more seriously and aim for bigger titles like the World Amateur Championship.

One of my biggest challenges has been not being able to attend tournaments because of distance and money. Sometimes, insecurity in Nigeria also stops me, especially as a minor. My first major tournament was the National Chess Championship. At first, I was scared, but after the event, I realized that I could actually do it, even though it was tough.

I train between 10 and 16 hours daily, depending on the day. On normal days, my training starts around 9am or 10am and ends around 10pm or 11pm, with breaks of three to four hours for lunch, dinner, and school runs. On tough days, I start at the same time, but I finish by 2am or 3am the next day. This was mainly to play practice games with engines in preparation for the Olympiad. My training schedule is detailed, covering different areas of chess based on what Coach Eddy plans for that day.

It’s all about discipline and planning. School and family come first. I use evenings and weekends for chess training. My family supports me a lot, and they help me stay focused.

I didn't know what to expect. I just knew I had to win because a lot was at stake. My preparation was very focused. For weeks before the tournament, I worked with my coach on Rapid and Blitz-specific training. We did many tactical puzzles because those formats need quick accuracy. I also played many Rapid and Blitz games with his students, especially his son, Henry Evbuomwan, to get used to the time pressure. Off the board, I made sure to rest well, stay active, and work on my mindset, reminding myself to take it one game at a time and not be overwhelmed by the title.

The hardest moment for me was at the start of the Blitz event. I lost my first three games. Honestly, I was down. I asked myself, "Is this really happening? Did I travel all this way to lose?" But I remembered why I was there. My coach and I talked, and he told me to go to the restroom and take a deep breath for a couple of minutes. Then I told myself, "Sandra, the tournament is not over. Forget the first three games and play the next one." So I reset. I focused on one game at a time, and I started winning. That comeback taught me that resilience is everything in chess. You can have a bad start, but you don’t have to finish badly.

It felt unreal. At first, I could not believe it, then joy and relief hit me all at once. When I realized I had won, the first thing I did was look up and thank God. I thought about my family, my coach, and everyone in Nigeria who believed in me. All those early mornings, losses, and sacrifices, it all made sense at that moment. It was a mix of fulfillment and motivation, fulfillment because the hard work paid off, and motivation because I knew this was just the start. Most of all, I felt proud to raise the Nigerian flag and bring the title home.

It changed how I see myself. Before, I was just “a player with potential.” Now I know I can compete and win at the world level. My goals have grown. In the short term, I want to achieve title norms. Long term, I want to become a Grandmaster and help Nigeria win at the Olympiad. I believe this is just the beginning.

My biggest goal is to become a Grandmaster. I want to keep representing Nigeria and Africa on the world stage and make my country proud. Outside chess, I want to become a medical doctor. I want to help people and give back to my community. I also want to inspire more young girls to play chess. I want them to see that it doesn’t matter where you start, from the streets, from school, or anywhere. You can reach the top. With God, hard work, and resilience, I believe I can achieve my dreams in chess and medicine. I’m not done yet. This is just the beginning.