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No fewer than 700 students from across Lagos are expected to compete for a prize pool of N10 million at the ChessMasters 2026 tournament scheduled for May 2 at Eko Hotels and Suites.
The tournament, considered the largest school chess championship in Africa, is sponsored by Nigeria’s FirstBank and organized by KEY Foundation in association with Eko Hotels and Suites.
ChessMasters is designed for primary school students ages 6 to 11 and aims to promote critical thinking, problem solving and leadership skills among young learners.
The competition will feature participants from around 150 schools in Lagos, providing a national platform for students to showcase their skills.
Speaking at the event, FirstBank Acting Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Olayinka Ijabiyi, said the bank’s participation aligns with its commitment to youth development and social impact through its First@Sports initiative.
According to him, the sponsorship reflects the bank’s broader focus on education, health and wellbeing, adding that chess provides an opportunity for children to develop analytical and competitive skills.
Ijabiyi also highlighted FirstBank’s long-standing support for sports development in Nigeria, citing its partnerships with legacy tournaments such as the Georgia Cup, Lagos Amateur Golf Championship and Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship.
Key Academy founder Damilola Okonkwo said the partnership with FirstBank would broaden the scope of the competition and encourage greater participation among schools.
He noted that the initiative is expected to strengthen the development of chess in Nigeria and at the same time promote intellectual growth among children.
Vice President of the Nigerian Chess Federation, Prince Adeyinka Adewole, said chess plays an important role in developing children’s cognitive skills, including concentration, patience and strategic thinking.
He added that the game has also shown benefits for children with autism, particularly in improving concentration and mental organization.
Organizers said interested schools can register to participate through the official ChessMasters website ahead of the competition.
