In 2018, she represented Bayelsa State at the National Sports Celebration, ending up being the youngest athlete ever to compete in the celebration’s history.She later won
3 gold medals at the National Youth Games, making history by winning 18 out of 18 games.
“Chess is different from other sports since it makes me clever, smart, and stand out in everything I do,” Deborah said.Deborah’s accomplishments
soon gained international acknowledgment. She won the African Youth Chess Champion in Accra, ending up being the youngest Nigerian female player to earn the Woman Prospect Master (WCM)title.At the age of 10, she was designated Youth Ambassador for Sports by the guv of Bayelsa State, and her achievements did not stop there.In 2023, Deborah attained one of the greatest milestones of her profession when she ended up being Nigeria’s female national chess champion at simply 11 years old, a record that could take years to break. Presently, she is ranked as the top female chess player under 12 in Africa and the third in the world.She likewise provided a remarkable efficiency
at the African Person Chess Champion in Accra, where she stopped the winning streak of Jesse Nikki February and held Shahenda Wafa to a draw.Despite her hectic chess career, Deborah stays dedicated to her education. She is currently in JSS3 and has actually maintained exceptional academic performance, even earning
double promotion throughout her main school years.Her mother, Vera Quickpen, has actually played a significant role in helping her balance both academics and chess.”She focuses on chess during holidays while taking her academics seriously throughout school hours, “her mother explained.Deborah said two individuals inspire her the most: her mom and legendary chess champion Susan Polgar.” My mum has actually constantly been there for me and has actually sacrificed a lot to guarantee I become who I am today,” she said.Looking ahead, Deborah has
ambitious goals. She hopes to become a chess Grandmaster, possibly the youngest in history, and likewise dreams of becoming a medical physician and developing her own chess foundation to help children discover the video game. In 2025, Deborah was chosen to represent Nigeria at the FIDE World Cup in Georgia, another significant action in her increasing international career.