The Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has adopted an eight-year-old chess prodigy, Emmanuella Omoragbon, as a child of the palace after being impressed by her performance during the opening ceremony of the Royal Rapid Chess Classic 2026 in Benin City, Edo State.
The monarch made the announcement on Saturday while officially opening the tournament with a ceremonial chess move as part of activities marking his 10th coronation anniversary.
The competition attracted 126 players from across Nigeria and commenced at the Oba’s Palace before moving to the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub on Airport Road, Benin City, for the tournament proper.
Oba Ewuare II Pledges Support for Young Chess Talent
During a symbolic exhibition match, the Oba played against Emmanuella, a Primary Three pupil, in a brief encounter that ended with the monarch capturing her bishop.
Impressed by the young girl’s chess skills, the traditional ruler pledged to take responsibility for 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 declared.
He added that the palace would monitor her general well-being, including her nutritional needs, and urged her parents to report any challenges affecting her progress.
“For a child of eight to be playing chess at this level is wonderful,” the monarch said.
The announcement highlights the palace’s commitment to identifying and nurturing young talents while promoting education and intellectual development among children.
Royal Gifts and Additional Prizes Announced
As part of the ceremony, Oba Ewuare II presented a royal gift of ₦2 million to participating players and visiting students of Edo College.
Emmanuella’s mother, Mrs. Doris Omoragbon, also received ₦250,000 in recognition of the occasion. She expressed gratitude for the monarch’s generosity, describing herself as overwhelmed by the gesture.
The Oba further announced additional royal prizes for tournament winners, including souvenirs crafted from Benin bronze. The items are expected to be presented at the grand finale scheduled for November 21, 2026.
126 Players Compete in Royal Rapid Chess Classic
Following the ceremonial opening at the palace, the competition moved to the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub on Airport Road, Benin City, where 126 of the 130 registered players gathered to compete.
Participants came from several states, including Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Edo.
Tournament coordinator and chess promoter Augustine Apemiye thanked the Oba for including chess in the programme for his 10th coronation anniversary.
Apemiye also disclosed that approval was being sought to establish the Oba Ewuare II Chess Club. The proposed club would train children at the palace and help identify promising young chess players.
Royal Rapid Chess Classic 2026 Prize Money
Organisers announced cash prizes across four categories, alongside awards for outstanding players.
Open Category
- First place: ₦350,000
- Second place: ₦250,000
- Third place: ₦150,000
- Fourth to 10th positions: ₦50,000 each
- Best Edo indigene: ₦50,000
- Best veteran: ₦50,000
Under-20 Category — Men and Women
- First place: ₦100,000
- Second place: ₦80,000
- Third place: ₦50,000
Under-14 Category
- First place: ₦30,000
- Second place: ₦20,000
- Third place: ₦10,000
Under-10 Category
- First place: ₦25,000
- Second place: ₦15,000
- Third place: ₦10,000
The prize structure is designed to reward players across different age groups and competitive levels while encouraging wider participation in chess.
Chess Takes Centre Stage in Benin Royal Anniversary
The Royal Rapid Chess Classic 2026 forms part of activities marking Oba Ewuare II’s 10th coronation anniversary and places a spotlight on youth empowerment, education and strategic thinking.
The monarch’s pledge to support Emmanuella’s development has also brought attention to the importance of identifying gifted children and providing them with opportunities to improve their skills.
With players from multiple states competing for cash awards and special royal prizes, the tournament offers a platform for emerging chess talents and reinforces efforts to promote chess among young people in Edo State and beyond.