10-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Mohammed Mubarak Set to Dazzle at National Youth Games

Nigeria’s sporting spotlight will shine a little brighter in Asaba, Delta State, as 10-year-old Mohammed Mubarak from Yobe State prepares to become the youngest athlete at the 2025 National Youth Games.

Mubarak, who picked up chess at the tender age of seven, has already battled his way through state and zonal elimination rounds to earn a spot at the national stage. Now, with his first-ever national outing ahead of him, the prodigy says he is excited to test his skills against the best young talents in the country.

His coach, Chuxphoenix, is brimming with confidence.

“With his passion for chess and determination to succeed, Mubarak is set to make a mark at the 2025 National Youth Games,” he affirmed.

The Games, which run from August 29 to September 6, 2025, will feature over 37 sports disciplines — from athletics to football — but Mubarak’s presence in the chess category is already making headlines for all the right reasons.

Opinion: Beyond the Game, A Symbol of Hope

What makes Mubarak’s story truly special is not just his talent, but what it represents. At a time when Nigeria is constantly searching for young stars to lift its image on the global stage, this 10-year-old reminds us that excellence knows no age.

Chess, often seen as a game of patience, intelligence, and foresight, is not the most glamorous sport in the Youth Games. Yet Mubarak’s presence could inspire a wave of interest among children who prefer the strategy of the mind to the speed of the track.

If he holds his nerves and performs well, Mubarak might just light a path for other youngsters from less-celebrated states like Yobe to dream big — not just in football or athletics, but in the quiet, calculated world of chess.

At 10, he’s not just competing; he’s carrying the torch of possibility for a generation. And whether he wins or not, Nigeria has already won by watching him rise.