UGANDA’S OMPRAKASH SANA KAYYAR WINS SILVER AT AFRICAN JUNIORS 2025, Secures WIM Norm and Nears 2000 Rating Record.
At the 2025 African Junior Chess Championship held from September 18 to 24 in Cidade Velha, Santiago island, Cape Verde, SANA OMPRAKASH KAYYAR representing Uganda delivered a great performance in the Girls’ section, finishing second overall.
In the final (9th) round, she drew against Ryma Nassr of Algeria (½-½) in a tightly contested game, cementing her silver-medal finish. lichess.org+1
This is a tremendous achievement, the African Junior (U-20) Championship is one of the continent’s strongest youth events, running a 9-round Swiss system with classical time control (90 min / 40 moves + 30 min finish + 30 sec increment from move 1).
Sana not only secured her place among Africa’s best juniors but also officially earned her first WIM norm equaling Nakanyike Maria’s record set in 2017 at 13 years old.
Profile: Who Is Sana Omprakash?
Here’s a deeper look at Sana, her journey, strengths, and ambitions.
The Opening:
- Sana holds the title Woman FIDE Master (WFM), which she earned at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September 2024.
- As of mid-2025, her standard classical FIDE rating was 1934.
- She was born on 19 November 2008, making her 16 going on 17 at the time of the 2025 African Junior event.
- Nationally, she’s been dominating: she is Uganda’s national Junior reigning chess champion, and has claimed multiple national titles, especially in junior and women’s categories.
Thus, by 2025 she is already among Uganda’s top female players and she is the highest-rated female chess player in East Africa as of August 2025
Her consistency in events across has built a reputation for disciplined preparation, sharp tactical awareness, and resilience under pressure
Middle – Game
- Known for tactical sharpness and willingness to fight in unclear positions, Sana often pressures opponents tactically even from small advantages.
- Her endgame play has steadily improved, allowing her to convert (or hold) complex endings.
- She is also praised for her competitive mindset: she doesn’t easily give up and often plays on in striving for full points even in difficult positions qualities that have served her well in big tournaments, where nerves, stamina, and fight make the difference.
End – Game
- Having crossed the WFM already, her next target is likely to achieve the WIM title, and then WGM title.
- With her 2nd place finish at the African Junior, her rating is expected to climb further she is “soon crossing 2000,” a milestone no one in East & Central African female players has reached.
Uganda’s Vice President Otim Isaac praised Sana’s achievement, saying:“Sana is a fighter. Our continental champion. We are very proud of her!”
The African Junior (U-20) Championship is a key proving ground, bringing together the continent’s rising stars. It has produced many future International Masters and Grandmasters.
In 2025, top players in the Girls’ section included:
- Jana Mohamed Zaki (Egypt), with a starting rating ~2010
- Jemima Paulo from Angola (1970 rating)
- Ryma Nassr (1952), whom Sana drew in the final round.
- Other strong participants: Natalie Katlo Banda, Chahrazad Djerroud, Zuri Kaloki, among others. Chess Results+1
Credit: Samuel Were
