Oba of Benin Launches Royal Chess Classic and Adopts Young Player

The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, officially opened the Royal Rapid Chess Classic 2026 on Saturday at his palace in Benin City. This event marks the beginning of celebrations for his 10th coronation anniversary. The tournament features 126 players from ten different states.

In a special opening match, the Oba played against eight-year-old Emmanuella Omoragbon, a talented chess player and Primary 3 student. The game ended with the Oba capturing one of her pieces. Impressed by her skills, the Oba announced that Emmanuella will now be considered a child of the palace. He promised to support her education, welfare, and chess training.

The Oba stated, “I want the palace to monitor the progress of the little girl: how she is doing with chess, her education and her welfare. The palace will now take care of her needs.” He emphasized the importance of helping her succeed.

During the ceremony, the Oba also presented a total of N2 million as a royal gift to the players and visiting students from Edo College. Emmanuella’s mother, who is a national chess champion, received N250,000 and expressed her gratitude for the royal support.

The tournament later moved to the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, where most of the registered players gathered. The competition includes participants from various states, such as Lagos, Rivers, and Delta.

Augustine Apemiye, the tournament coordinator, thanked the Oba for including chess in the anniversary celebrations. He mentioned plans to create the Oba Ewuare II Chess Club to train young players and discover new talent.

Winners of the tournament will receive cash prizes across different categories, with amounts varying based on their rankings. The event not only celebrates the Oba’s anniversary but also highlights his dedication to empowering youth through intellectual activities.