Lagos School Wins National Chess Competition

Students from Platform Schools, Ipaja, Lagos, have won the 2026 Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship in the secondary school category. They took home a prize of N2.5 million after scoring 16 points in a tournament that had over 1,500 students from around 300 schools across Nigeria.

Dayspring School came in second and received N2 million, while King’s College Lagos secured third place with N1.5 million. In the primary school category, Chess in Slums Africa, representing the Makoko community, won first place. Their achievement was celebrated for showcasing talent from a less privileged background.

Amir Obe, a student from the winning school, shared that their success came from hard work. “We trained for months, studying different strategies and playing practice games daily. Winning this competition shows that hard work truly pays off,” he said.

Mr Bola Obe, the founder of Platform Schools, said the victory shows their commitment to developing students' minds. “At Platform Schools, we prioritise critical thinking and problem-solving. Chess is one of the tools we use to prepare our students for global relevance. This victory reflects our commitment to nurturing well-rounded students who can compete globally. Chess is not just a game; it builds critical thinking, patience, and problem-solving skills,” he said.

Mr Adeyinka Adewole, the Vice-President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, took the chance to talk about Nigeria’s progress towards having its first Grandmaster.

“To attain a Grandmaster title, a player must have a minimum rating of 2,500. Last year, Nigeria’s highest rating was 2,290, but as we speak, it has risen to 2,359. This shows that we are getting closer. If we maintain this trajectory, we will soon have multiple players competing at the highest levels globally,” he said.

The championship, organised with Ecobank, aims to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics education through chess. It also encourages strategic thinking among young Nigerians.