ChessMasters returns to Lagos with 750 students, N10 million prize money and renewed focus on critical thinking and youth development.

Following the successful debut of Africa’s largest school chess competition at the Eko Convention Centre last year, the 2026 edition of ChessMasters is expanding further, as it continues to emphasise the development of 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and problem solving in Nigerian students.

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, ChessMasters will return for its second edition, bringing together 750 young thinkers from 150 schools across Lagos state. This year’s tournament, anchored on the theme ‘Your Move’, signals an evolution from the excitement of the inaugural launch to a deep-rooted movement focused on student agency, ownership, and forward movement.

ChessMasters is a groundbreaking partnership between KEY academy, a 21st-century school pioneering project-based learning in Nigeria and Eko Hotels & Suites, Nigeria’s leading cultural and hospitality hub. Together, they have built a platform that moves beyond the board, using chess as a vehicle to equip the next generation with the critical thinking, problem solving, resilience, and foresight required for a rapidly changing, technology and AI-driven world.

Speaking on Monday at the press conference to announce this year’s edition,The Co- Founder of ChessMasters and Director on the board of Eko Hotels and Suites, one of the visionaries behind the initiative, Mrs. Caline Chagoury Moudaber said, “Last year, we saw the incredible power of chess to spark the imagination of over 500 students. This year, we are expanding that board, inviting more students to realise that every move they make is a step toward a more vibrant and dynamic future for our community.”

She explained further that the tournament aligns with a broader vision to highlight Lagos and empower its younger generation.

“I’ve been madly in love with this country and this city my whole life,” she said. “I like the attention to shine on Lagos, on its people, on its children and we like things to be well done when we shine that light.

“So, I’m very proud that Eko Hotels is a part of this for that reason and I’m very grateful to all the support from all the sponsors.”

Also speaking at the press conference, Damilola Okonkwo, founder of KEY Academy and co-visionary of the initiative, said, “ChessMasters is more than a tournament; it is a thoughtful invitation for children to develop the critical thinking and decision-making skills they need for life. We are not just teaching or competing in a game; we are cultivating a generation of problem solvers who understand that their moves matter, both on the board and in the world at large.”

She explained that the competition is designed to go beyond the traditional perception of chess as merely a board game.

“ChessMasters 2025 was an absolutely fantastic tournament,” she said. “What we saw was not just children competing but children learning 21st-century skills like collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making.”

Okonkwo explained that the idea for the tournament was conceived by herself and Caline Chagoury Moudaber after observing their children’s enthusiasm for the game. She noted that the overwhelming response to the first edition inspired the team to expand participation this year.

“Last year we had 100 schools. This year we’ve gone up to 150 schools across Lagos taking part. That’s 750 students across the city participating in this tournament,” she said.

Beyond the competition itself, she emphasised that the initiative celebrates every participant regardless of the final outcome.

“What was highlighted so much last year and which we continue to do this year is that every single child whether they won or lost was celebrated. Every single child felt celebrated, felt rewarded and it was a fantastic community event. We want to continue to do this alongside our partners, alongside our amazing sponsors,” she said.

Also speaking, General Manager of Eko Hotels & Suites, Danny Kiopouroglou, noted that despite the rapid growth of technology, board games such as chess continue to thrive globally.

“With the advancement of information technology, many people thought that board games and the likes, including chess would be dead very quickly. However, what we see is the growth and development of the game more and more worldwide. So this is the paradox. And what is very interesting is that there are studies nowadays that say that board games actually help improve the social well-being of people. So when people play games, chess, whatever else in terms of board games, this helps them in the social skills that they develop but also in the well-being of the person. That is psychological wellbeing.”

Kiopouroglou added that encouraging children to engage in intellectual competitions helps reduce excessive screen time while fostering healthy social interaction.

Representing First Bank of Nigeria, Acting Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Olayinka Ijabiyi, described the bank’s sponsorship of the tournament as part of its longstanding commitment to talent development and community investment.

“This competition holds great promise in building the mental and strategic thinking capacities of young minds,” he said. “School aged children can now challenge themselves, think critically and compete at the highest levels. We are delighted to be a part of this celebration of young grand masters in waiting, ready to take over the world with their brains.”

Ijabiyi noted that the bank’s involvement builds on decades of investment in sports development across Nigeria, adding that initiatives like ChessMasters help nurture the next generation of thinkers and leaders.

Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewole, described chess as a powerful developmental tool capable of shaping young minds.

“Chess is actually a strategic tool that you can actually use to change a particular kid. You can use it to model kids in general. Nigeria Chess Federation is actually pleased to partner and collaborate and support Key academy on this journey.”

Adewole commended the organisers for focusing on teamwork rather than individual performance, saying such an approach encourages collaboration among young players.

The Managing Director of Eko Hotels & Suites, Ghassan Faddoul, said the hotel’s involvement reflects its broader mission to support community development as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Organisers also revealed that prize money for the 2026 edition has doubled from ₦5 million to ₦10 million, with awards extended beyond the top three teams to the top ten schools in the competition.

While this year’s tournament remains limited to schools in Lagos, Okonkwo said plans are underway to expandthe initiative nationwide and eventually across Africa.

“Right now we are a regional tournament focusing on Lagos but beyond that, in the next year we do want to become more national and bring schools across the country into this game of chess for ChessMasters. Beyond that, we want to go international and take this game of chess Pan-African all across the continent, sharing this game of chess across schools but making sure the finals and the tournament is held here at Eko hotels.”

Participation in the tournament is open to primary school pupils aged 5 to 11, with each school registering a team of five players.

As anticipation builds for the May 2026 event, organisers say the tournament aims to strengthen chess education while nurturing critical thinking skills among young participants.

“With ChessMasters 2026,” Okonkwo said, “there is so much more to celebrate in the game of chess—bigger participation, bigger prizes and bigger opportunities for children across Lagos.” (AriseNews TV)

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