Deborah Quickpen, the 12 year old Nigerian Chess Champion adventuring for Global Glory

From Bayelsa, in the deep south of Nigeria, Africa's most populated nation with more than two hundred million people who are mostly crazy about music and football, Chess prodigy, Deborah Quickpen, has emerged from the unlikeliest of places to challenge the stalwarts of chess to become the "Glory of All Lands" as is the motto of her native Bayelsa.

Affectionately known as DebbyQuick in the chess community, Quickpen etched her name into Nigerian chess history books, when she became the youngest Nigerian national chess champion ever at the tender age of 11, after emerging winner of the women's category at the 2023 Nigeria Chess Championship. She broke the long-standing record of Oluwatobi Olatunji (now Oloruntola), who triumphed at age 13. As she prepares to compete in the FIDE U12 Girls World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, her journey from a curious toddler to a national sensation is nothing short of extraordinary.

Deborah Quickpen's introduction to chess at the age of 3 was truly remarkable, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey. "I was introduced to chess by my former coach Mr. Bomo Kigya," she recounts with a nostalgic smile. "He taught me how to play, and I immediately developed a passion for it. The game was really fun, so I decided to go with it."

What started as a jolly pastime soon transformed into an unyielding passion, as the young DebbyQuick found herself drawn to the captivating dance of the chess pieces on the board.
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