The 2025 Niger Delta Sports Festival witnessed an electrifying display of chess mastery, with Bayelsa State emerging as the undisputed chess champion. Dominating both team and individual categories, Bayelsa’s chess contingent delivered an unforgettable performance, sealing their place as the region’s powerhouse in the game.
Bayelsa’s Unstoppable Sweep in Team Events
Bayelsa’s chess teams captured gold in both the Men’s and Women’s Team Events, showcasing exceptional strategy, teamwork, and precision. The Bayelsa men’s team triumphed over strong competitors from Edo and Delta States, while the women’s team mirrored this success, asserting their dominance over the same rivals.
| Event | Name/Team | State | Points | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Team Event | Team Bayelsa | Bayelsa | 30.5 | Gold |
| Team Edo | Edo | 27.5 | Silver | |
| Team Delta | Delta | 26.5 | Bronze | |
| Women’s Team Event | Team Bayelsa | Bayelsa | 25.0 | Gold |
| Team Edo | Edo | 23.5 | Silver | |
| Team Delta | Delta | 22.5 | Bronze |
Medals Across the Board: Bayelsa Shines in Individual Events
In the individual events, Bayelsa State continued to show its chess supremacy, with a clean sweep of golds in the Women’s Blitz and Men’s Blitz, while rising stars like Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen and Odeh Goodness Eburke played pivotal roles in securing these victories.
| Event | Name/Team | State | Points | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men Team Medals | Team Bayelsa | Bayelsa | 30.5 | Gold |
| Team Edo | Edo | 27.5 | Silver | |
| Team Delta | Delta | 26.5 | Bronze | |
| Women Team Medals | Team Bayelsa | Bayelsa | 32.5 | Gold |
| Team Edo | Edo | 23.5 | Silver | |
| Team Delta | Delta | 22.5 | Bronze | |
| Men Rapid | Uraih, Patrick | Delta | — | Gold |
| Ekunkpe, Odeh Goodness | Bayelsa | — | Silver | |
| Osayande, Kingsley | Edo | — | Bronze | |
| Women Rapid | Quickpen, Deborah Ebimobo-ere | Bayelsa | — | Gold |
| Isede, Jessica Nkemdilim | Bayelsa | — | Silver | |
| Ebiakpo, Ebidise Sunshine | Bayelsa | — | Bronze | |
| Men Blitz | Ekunkpe, Odeh Goodness | Bayelsa | — | Gold |
| Alagoa, Ayeabeemimbarakere Domo | Bayelsa | — | Silver | |
| Aigbekeaken, Effort | Edo | — | Bronze | |
| Women Blitz | Quickpen, Deborah Ebimobo-ere | Bayelsa | — | Gold |
| Ebiakpo, Ebidise Sunshine | Bayelsa | — | Silver | |
| Igueh, Elora Oise | Rivers | — | Bronze |
Deborah Quickpen: The Queen of Niger Delta Chess
Deborah Ebimobo-ere Quickpen, the standout talent of the tournament, claimed double gold in both the Women’s Rapid and Women’s Blitz events. With her strategic brilliance and composure under pressure, she is quickly becoming one of the most recognized figures in Nigerian chess.
Odeh Goodness Eburke: A Dual Medal Hero
In addition to the team gold, Odeh Goodness Eburke added two more medals to Bayelsa’s haul. He earned Silver in Men’s Rapid and Gold in Men’s Blitz, making him a key figure in Bayelsa’s success and a force to be reckoned with on the chessboard.
Conclusion: Checkmate Secured
With an impressive tally of 5 Gold, 4 Silver, and 1 Bronze medals, Bayelsa State has firmly established itself as a dominant force in regional chess. Their exceptional performance at the 2025 Niger Delta Sports Festival highlights not only their strategic brilliance but also the state’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of grandmasters.
Bayelsa didn’t just play chess — they conquered it.
