Uganda’s Omprakash wins silver at African Junior Chess Championship

Uganda’s National Junior Chess Champion, Sana Kayyar Omprakash, delivered a historic performance at the just-concluded African Junior (U-20) Chess Championship in Cidade Velha, Santiago Island, Cape Verde, where she clinched a silver medal.

The 16-year-old, competing in the girls’ category, finished second overall to secure Uganda’s second-ever silver medal at this prestigious continental event, which brought together 16 of Africa’s brightest young chess talents.

Entering the tournament as the third-ranked player with a rating of 1965, Sana was seeded behind Angola’s Paulo Jemima and Africa’s top junior, Jana Mohamed Zaki of Egypt. She opened her campaign in style, winning three straight matches against South Africa’s Jacobs Elsje, Kenya’s Zuri Kaloki, and Angola’s Antonio Renelsa.

Her momentum was briefly halted with back-to-back defeats to eventual champion Jana Mohamed Zaki and Botswana’s Banda Natalie Katlo in rounds four and five. But the resilient Ugandan bounced back strongly, defeating Angola’s André Claudia and Algeria’s Djerroud Rayma, before pulling off a stunning upset against Angola’s Paulo Jemima, Africa’s number two, in the penultimate round.

Sana sealed her silver medal with a hard-fought draw against Algeria’s Nasr Rayma, finishing on 6.5 points—edging Kenya’s Zuri Kaloki on tie-break.

This remarkable achievement makes her only the second Ugandan to win silver at the African Junior Championship, following Nakanyike Maria’s feat in 2017.

Already a Woman FIDE Master (WFM), Sana is now officially the highest-rated female chess player in East Africa. Her silver medal also secures her qualification for the World Juniors Chess Championship to be held in Lima, Peru, in September next year.

Uganda Chess Federation vice-president Isaac Otim hailed her performance, praising her consistency, tactical awareness, and mental strength. “Sana is a fighter. She never surrenders until the last minute. We are really proud of her,” Otim said.