VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS— Following a landmark debut last year, the 2026 edition of ChessMasters is set to return to the Eko Convention Centre on Saturday, Might 2, 2026.
This year’s competition, themed “Your Move,” will see a considerable growth, uniting 750 main school pupils from 150 schools throughout Lagos State to contend for a doubled prize swimming pool of 10 million.
The effort, a partnership in between secret Academy and Eko Hotels & Suites, aims to rearrange chess not simply as a board game, but as a crucial pedagogical tool for establishing 21st-century abilities such as strategic foresight, strength, and analytical in an AI-driven world.
Speaking at an interview on Monday, the Co-Founder of ChessMasters and Director at Eko Hotels, Mrs. Caline Chagoury Moudaber, kept in mind that the 2026 edition signals an advancement from a single occasion into a deep-rooted movement concentrated on student agency.
“Last year, we saw the incredible power of chess to spark the creativity of over 500 trainees,” Moudaber said. “This year, we are expanding that board, inviting more students to realize that every relocation they make is a step toward a more vibrant and dynamic future.”
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Damilola Okonkwo, Founder of KEY Academy and co-visionary of the project, echoed this belief, highlighting that the competitors commemorates every individual regardless of the outcome.
She highlighted that the variety of participating schools has actually jumped from 100 to 150, showing the growing interest for project-based knowing in the city.
The General Supervisor of Eko Hotels & Suites, Danny Kiopouroglou, attended to the “paradox” of board games flourishing in a state-of-the-art age.
He cited studies suggesting that video games like chess considerably improve social wellness and mental health by promoting real-world interaction.
While the 2026 edition remains focused on Lagos, the organizers revealed a roadmap to take the tournament nationwide and eventually Pan-African.
The goal is to establish Eko Hotels as the permanent home for a continental final that combines the very best young minds from throughout Africa.
The Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) has actually tossed its full weight behind the project. Vice President Adeyinka Adewole explained chess as a “strategic tool” to model the character of children, applauding the organizers for prioritizing group characteristics over private efficiency.
Representing First Bank of Nigeria, Olayinka Ijabiyi emphasized the bank’s dedication to neighborhood financial investment, explaining the individuals as “young grandmasters in waiting.”
He kept in mind that the bank’s sponsorship intends to build the psychological and strategic capacities required for future leadership.
The 2026 edition will reward the leading ten schools, making sure that the impact of the 10 million reward fund is felt across a broader series of universities.