ChessMasters Match Returns Larger And Higher, To Characteristic 150 Lagos Colleges With N10M Prize Cash Up For Grabs
Following the profitable debut of Africa’s largest college chess competitors on the Eko Conference Centre final yr, the 2026 version of ChessMasters is increasing additional, because it continues to emphasize the event of Twenty first-century expertise similar to essential pondering and drawback fixing in Nigerian college students.
On Saturday, Might 2, 2026, ChessMasters will return for its second version, bringing collectively 750 younger thinkers from 150 faculties throughout Lagos state. This yr’s event, anchored on the theme ‘Your Transfer’, alerts an evolution from the thrill of the inaugural launch to a deep-rooted motion centered on scholar company, possession, and ahead motion.
ChessMasters is a groundbreaking partnership between KEY academy, a Twenty first-century college pioneering project-based studying in Nigeria and Eko Resorts & Suites, Nigeria’s main cultural and hospitality hub. Collectively, they’ve constructed a platform that strikes past the board, utilizing chess as a automobile to equip the following technology with the essential pondering, drawback fixing, resilience, and foresight required for a quickly altering, expertise and AI-driven world.
Talking on Monday on the press convention to announce this yr’s version,The Co- Founding father of ChessMasters and Director on the board of Eko Resorts and Suites, one of many visionaries behind the initiative, Mrs. Caline Chagoury Moudaber stated, “Final yr, we noticed the unbelievable energy of chess to spark the creativeness of over 500 college students. This yr, we’re increasing that board, inviting extra college students to understand that each transfer they make is a step towards a extra vibrant and dynamic future for our group.”
She defined additional that the event aligns with a broader imaginative and prescient to focus on Lagos and empower its youthful technology.
“I’ve been head over heels in love with this nation and this metropolis my complete life,” she stated. “I like the eye to shine on Lagos, on its folks, on its youngsters and we like issues to be nicely executed once we shine that gentle.
“So, I’m very proud that Eko Resorts is part of this for that motive and I’m very grateful to all of the assist from all of the sponsors.”
Additionally talking on the press convention, Damilola Okonkwo, founding father of KEY Academy and co-visionary of the initiative, stated, “ChessMasters is greater than a event; it’s a considerate invitation for kids to develop the essential pondering and decision-making expertise they want for all times. We’re not simply instructing or competing in a sport; we’re cultivating a technology of drawback solvers who perceive that their strikes matter, each on the board and on the planet at massive.”
She defined that the competitors is designed to transcend the normal notion of chess as merely a board sport.
“ChessMasters 2025 was a fully improbable event,” she stated. “What we noticed was not simply youngsters competing however youngsters studying Twenty first-century expertise like collaboration, essential pondering, problem-solving and decision-making.”
Okonkwo defined that the thought for the event was conceived by herself and Caline Chagoury Moudaber after observing their youngsters’s enthusiasm for the sport. She famous that the overwhelming response to the primary version impressed the staff to broaden participation this yr.
“Final yr we had 100 faculties. This yr we’ve gone as much as 150 faculties throughout Lagos collaborating. That’s 750 college students throughout the town taking part on this event,” she stated.
Past the competitors itself, she emphasised that the initiative celebrates each participant whatever the remaining final result.
“What was highlighted a lot final yr and which we proceed to do that yr is that each single youngster whether or not they gained or misplaced was celebrated. Each single youngster felt celebrated, felt rewarded and it was a improbable group occasion. We wish to proceed to do that alongside our companions, alongside our superb sponsors,” she stated.
Additionally talking, Normal Supervisor of Eko Resorts & Suites, Danny Kiopouroglou, famous that regardless of the fast development of expertise, board video games similar to chess proceed to thrive globally.
“With the development of knowledge expertise, many individuals thought that board video games and the likes, together with chess can be lifeless in a short time. Nonetheless, what we see is the expansion and growth of the sport increasingly worldwide. So that is the paradox. And what’s very attention-grabbing is that there are research these days that say that board video games truly assist enhance the social well-being of individuals. So when folks play video games, chess, no matter else by way of board video games, this helps them within the social expertise that they develop but additionally within the well-being of the particular person. That’s psychological wellbeing.”
Kiopouroglou added that encouraging youngsters to interact in mental competitions helps cut back extreme display screen time whereas fostering wholesome social interplay.
Representing First {Bank} of Nigeria, Performing Group Head of Advertising and Company Communications, Olayinka Ijabiyi, described the {bank}’s sponsorship of the event as a part of its longstanding dedication to expertise growth and group funding.
“This competitors holds nice promise in constructing the psychological and strategic pondering capacities of younger minds,” he stated. “College aged youngsters can now problem themselves, suppose critically and compete on the highest ranges. We’re delighted to be part of this celebration of younger grand masters in ready, able to take over the world with their brains.”
Ijabiyi famous that the {bank}’s involvement builds on a long time of funding in sports growth throughout Nigeria, including that initiatives like ChessMasters assist nurture the following technology of thinkers and leaders.
Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewole, described chess as a strong developmental instrument able to shaping younger minds.
“Chess is definitely a strategic instrument that you would be able to truly use to alter a selected child. You should utilize it to mannequin children generally. Nigeria Chess Federation is definitely happy to companion and collaborate and assist Key academy on this journey.”
Adewole counseled the organisers for specializing in teamwork relatively than particular person efficiency, saying such an method encourages collaboration amongst younger gamers.
The Managing Director of Eko Resorts & Suites, Ghassan Faddoul, stated the resort’s involvement displays its broader mission to assist group growth because it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this yr.
Organisers additionally revealed that prize cash for the 2026 version has doubled from ₦5 million to ₦10 million, with awards prolonged past the highest three groups to the highest ten faculties within the competitors.
Whereas this yr’s event stays restricted to colleges in Lagos, Okonkwo stated plans are underway to broaden the initiative nationwide and ultimately throughout Africa.
“Proper now we’re a regional event specializing in Lagos however past that, within the subsequent yr we do wish to turn out to be extra nationwide and produce faculties throughout the nation into this sport of chess for ChessMasters. Past that, we wish to go worldwide and take this sport of chess Pan-African all throughout the continent, sharing this sport of chess throughout faculties however ensuring the finals and the event is held right here at Eko accommodations.”
Participation within the event is open to major college pupils aged 5 to 11, with every college registering a staff of 5 gamers.
As anticipation builds for the Might 2026 occasion, organisers say the event goals to strengthen chess schooling whereas nurturing essential pondering expertise amongst younger members.
“With ChessMasters 2026,” Okonkwo stated, “there may be a lot extra to have a good time within the sport of chess—greater participation, greater prizes and larger alternatives for kids throughout Lagos.”
Melissa Enoch
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