At the heart of Women’s Chess in Africa, beautiful stories are unfolding, as many amazing women continue to raise the rich colours of Africa over the chessboard.

Yes, there are challenges, but these women have risen against these odds, defiantly carving a path for themselves in the male-dominated chess field, and much so in the African terrains, where Chess is still growing.

Today, we had the honour of sitting with Nigeria’s strongest Woman chess player, and of course, one of Africa’s strongest Women Chess players.

Let’s meet the fierce but calm Toritsemuwa Ofowino.

Tell us about yourself, and what does Chess mean to you?

I am Toritsemuwa Ofowino, the man slayer, lol. I am a professional Chess player from Delta State, Nigeria.

For me, Chess is joy and pain. It’s extremely joyful when you win. I mean, you feel so happy and good with yourself and hope to do more to keep the wins coming. But when you lose, you feel down, unable to perform, and sometimes you may even doubt yourself, and that’s pain to me.

Can you take us back to the very beginning? How did you get introduced to Chess?

My dad brought home a chessboard, my elder brother and his friends played, but they never let me join them, so I peeped at them from afar whilst they played, and somehow I began to understand the game a bit. That was my first experience with Chess.

I only began expressing myself on the chessboard in 2010, at age 21, during my time at the University of Benin, where I found Chess again.

At what point did you decide to take Chess seriously, and what made you pursue it professionally?

Watching guys play back then in school was fascinating for me. I enjoyed getting lost on the chessboard and wondering what each piece wanted me to do. I became hooked on Chess, and I played for the fun of it. Most nights then, I lost sleep analyzing Chess positions.

I started to take Chess seriously when I was told that if I got better, I could get opportunities to travel and get employed. This was thrilling for me to learn, because I was mostly playing for fun, so the idea of getting real opportunities was amazing for me.

Were there any key people, mentors, or moments that shaped your path early on?

For sure, some of the guys at the University of Benin encouraged me to improve.

Master Tee used to incentivize me with stipends and buy me lunch to encourage me to play. There were about 3 ladies and 50 guys at the Chess arena, not the nicest place to play and win, but these events shaped me.

Joma and Kennedy always encouraged me to play, and there was one amazing lady, Madam Oby Mgbameh Jemide, who supported me. She gave me stipends to show up in Chess events, and I love stipends so much, Lol.

Beyond winning titles and trophies, would you still play chess regardless of those?

Yes, I will, because Chess fascinates me.

How has Chess shaped your identity or helped you grow as a person?

Chess has made me intentional in whatever I do, and made me more focused.

What key lesson has Chess ever taught you that has stuck with you till this day?

Consequences. Chess has shown me that the decisions we make always have consequences. Whether we avoid making decisions or not, indecision is also a choice. And if we let others make decisions for us, there are still consequences. Chess taught me that I need to make decisions myself so that I learn from my mistakes and try to fine-tune them next time.

What's your most painful Chess experience, and how did you get over it?

In 2022, at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, I was hospitalized a day before the last round of the tournament. It was something serious, but I didn’t know until I was hospitalized. It affected my performance badly. Everyone left after the tournament, but I was alone in the hospital. I began thinking about why I was even playing Chess at all. I got a bit better, ended up travelling back home alone, and I did not want to play Chess anymore. Somehow, again, I braced myself and went for the next tournament after being encouraged by my friend.

Can you describe a moment in your Chess journey where you felt like giving up? Did you ever quit? What has kept you going?

It’s definitely my experience at the Chennai Olympiads. I gave up and didn’t want to play Chess anymore, but I was encouraged by my friend to keep playing.

As a woman in a male-dominated field, how have you handled challenges like bias, doubt, or lack of support?

At first, it bothered me that women were pushed aside, but then I thought it through and understood that the reason was probably because women were not ready to step up their skill level; that’s why there is a little bias. I decided that if I wanted to sit at the table, I wasn’t gonna let anyone pick a seat for me. I’ll make room for myself at the table, whether or not it’s offered, even if I have to push someone off the table to earn my seat. Lol, of course not literally.

What sacrifices have you had to make to stay committed to your path?

I have sacrificed being with family and having to deal with being alone just to stay committed to this path. At first, it was difficult, but I realized that if I wanted to do this, I must be ready for whatever consequences came with it.

When I started playing Chess at the University of Benin, for some reason, my parents didn’t want me playing Chess; they thought it was gambling, and they didn’t want their daughter wasting her life on such. I ended up being cut off, my school allowances stopped coming in, and I stopped talking to them to avoid the same story of quitting chess.

Pretty sad, but I did not stop playing Chess. I also started avoiding home during the holidays. I kept on playing Chess, and had friends that kept encouraging me to play, so I pushed through those moments.

Over the years, things changed, and my parents partially accepted me in 2016, but there was still some small resentment. Then, most fortunately for us all, in 2018, I was fully accepted by my parents, and now they are super proud of my Chess career, they are also happy that I fought my way to stay with Chess.

How did it feel when you were crowned Nigeria's Women's Chess Champion?

I was happy, but there was no special feeling; it felt like just another win.

You've dominated the Zonal Championships, winning four times (2019, 2022, 2024, and 2025). How do you stay motivated to consistently perform at such a high level?

I always play to win, so I am mostly motivated. In 2019, I was excited to play the event and won it. In 2022, I participated and was happy to win the event again. In 2024, after I faced some personal challenges, I didn't want to play, but my friend encouraged me, so I tried my best and was happy when I won it again. In 2025, I played in the same spirit and was not so surprised I won again.

Does wearing that title come with pressure, or does it drive you?

It comes with a lot of pressure, but I always do my best to block out the side talks from people wondering if I can keep up with my successes. Well, the pressure drove me to improve and do better than the last time, and I keep putting in the work.

What has been one of your most memorable games or tournaments, and why?

My most memorable tournament was the West African Zonals 2024, where I finished the tournament with a perfect score.

My most memorable game was in the Super Zonals this year (2025) where I played Lina Nassr from Algeria. It was memorable because I had just finished playing the West African Zonals a day ago, and we jumped right into the Super Zonals. As at round 7, I was already fatigued and didn’t think I could pull through, but I continued and was shocked by my performance. Knowing how fatigued I was, I managed to outplay her. 5 moves into that game, I felt extremely tired, but I encouraged myself to keep going, and it paid off!

As the Nigerian Women's National Champion (This is no small feat). How do you aim to inspire the next generation of girls in chess?

I try to have a one-on-one conversation with as many young girls as I can to encourage them, and to remind them that the journey won’t be easy, but whatever comes their way, they should stay strong and push through.

How important is sisterhood and support among women in chess? Are the women overly competitive, or is there some sort of professionalism and friendship amongst women Chess players?

Yeah, there is professionalism and friendship amongst women in Chess. There are some ladies that have found real friends and even sisters they can run to in good and bad times. I myself found some women I could call my elder sisters when I was started out. Even though they no longer play Chess, they made me feel welcome and helped me fit in.

Away from Chess, who are your female role models?

My mum, whose strength and unwavering spirit taught me resilience. I have another mother figure I fondly call 'Small Mummy.' The love these women show me is deep and unwavering, and I feel truly blessed. They are my role models.

Have you had a mentor in Chess, or have you become one?

Some of the guys back then at the University of Benin were pivotal to my growth as a player. Also, one of my chess coaches, Madam Hobby, was a solid mentor to me. Some notable mentions of my mentors in Chess include Olabisi Rabiu and Aishat Ibrahim.

I have had the privilege of mentoring some young girls not just in Chess but in life, because I realized we all need people to mentor us.

What advice would you give to a girl from a small community who wants to rise in chess but doesn't know where to start?

There’s no perfect answer. I’ll just say start. Start somewhere and be consistent, turn up every day, no matter how small; the little things will add up.

What are your thoughts on Promoting Queens Chess Foundation?

Promoting queens is doing a great job encouraging young girls and ladies to play Chess. And beyond that, Promoting Queens also supports these girls through life, which is super amazing, because most young ladies need encouragement, and Promoting Queens sufficiently fills that gap.

How do you think we (Promoting Queens) can further attain our goal of transforming the Chess landscape for girls?

I can’t think of what more could be done. I can see some improvement in the life of some young girls, so keep doing a great job.

What's your dream for women's Chess in Nigeria?

I dream of seeing Nigerian women rise to dominate African chess. With the right support and sponsorship, we have the potential to go far.

If you could change one thing in the Chess world right now, what would it be?

I haven’t thought that far lol, not changing anything.

What's one goal you want to achieve in the next 3 years in your Chess career

My goal is to become a Grandmaster within the next 3 years. I hope to achieve this by improving my Chess skills and attending international tournaments, where I can play against the best players out there.

What's one thing people might be surprised to know about you?

I used to dance. I was into choreography, and I still love dancing, but I don’t dance much anymore.

Who are your favorite male and female chess players—both local and international?

In Nigeria, I enjoy watching Nwankwo Michelle Chiamaka, and internationally, I love Hou Yifan. My favorite male players are Kennedy Onokpite and Magnus Carlsen.

Do you have any Chess superstitions or pre-game rituals? If yes, what are they?

I try to get enough rest. So I sleep well before games.

What do you do for fun away from Chess?

I love food, sleep, and I imagine myself dancing, lol.

What’s your favourite Chess opening, or the one that just feels like home?

1.d4. I just want to play d4 and sit quietly.

Music or Movies? Or both? And who are your favourite musicians?

Movies all the way. I love Cartoons too. I don’t have a favorite musician right now.

You are a professional Chess player. If you weren't playing Chess, what would you be doing for work?

I believe I would have gone into the entertainment industry. I’ll either be singing or dancing.

What would you like to be remembered for in Chess and Life generally?

I would love to be remembered as someone who never quit.

What is your go-to quote for life, more like your mantra?

Live life, smile, be happy about today, because tomorrow might not be.

What would you say to your younger self, just learning how the knight moves?

I’ll tell her to focus and just sit there. Chess is going to take you places.

Do you have any regrets about picking Chess as a path?

No, I don’t. I’m glad I took it up.

In one sentence: What is your message to every girl dreaming of becoming a queen, both on and off the board

Keep dreaming and be consistent in pursuing that dream in Chess, and outside of Chess.