Platform Schools retain crown as Ecobank Schools Chess Championship raises stakes for Nigerian youth chess

For the second consecutive year, Platform Schools, Ipaja, Lagos, stood tallest at the Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship, reaffirming their dominance in one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing youth sporting competitions.

The Lagos-based school emerged champions of the secondary school category at the third edition of the championship, carting home the coveted trophy and a ₦2.5 million cash prize after another commanding display across six rounds of rapid chess competition.

But beyond the trophies and prize money, the 2026 edition of the championship reflected something deeper — the growing structure, ambition, and national appeal of school chess in Nigeria.

Held with participation from 106 schools across the country, the tournament featured separate categories for primary and secondary schools, with winners determined by cumulative team performances after six rapid rounds.

Dayspring School from Oyo State finished second in the secondary category to claim ₦2 million, while King’s College Lagos completed one of the tournament’s most remarkable stories by finishing third and earning ₦1.5 million.

The podium finish represented a dramatic rise for King’s College, which placed 54th in the maiden edition before improving to 19th last year and eventually breaking into the top three this year.

A total prize pool of ₦20 million was distributed among participants, with the winning primary school team receiving ₦2 million. Organisers also rewarded standout individual performances across boards, while special prizes were introduced for the best female players. The top female player in the secondary category received ₦500,000, while the best female player in the primary category earned ₦250,000.

The tournament, sponsored by Ecobank Nigeria, also attracted support from long-time partners including Schoolmate, Frutta Juice and Services Nigeria Ltd, New Cross Exploration & Production Limited, and CZI.

For the Vice President of the Nigeria Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewole, the consistency of Platform Schools was one of the strongest takeaways from the competition.

“So this was actually a wonderful event, the third edition. And it’s so impressive that you have a consistent winner where you have Platform School,” Adewole said.

“You were here last year. Actually, in the first edition, they came second. In the second edition, they came first. And this is the third edition. So, which means they are actually doing something different.”

He added that the performances of younger players at the tournament reinforced belief in Nigeria’s chess potential.

“One of them has a very high rating of 1900, which you always have at a much higher age. So at 13 years, 14 years, having a 1900 rating actually means a lot for Nigeria,” he said.

Adewole also stressed the need for broader inclusion and sponsorship support to enable participation from more schools nationwide.

“We want inclusivity. We want a geographical spread of the event itself,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to the future whereby we will have sponsors that will sponsor a lot of students from all across the North, the South, the East.”

At the closing ceremony, Ecobank’s Segment Head for Education, Faith and Social Services, Adekunle Adewuyi, described the championship as a celebration of intellect, discipline, and leadership.

“Today’s event is not just the end of the competition. It is a celebration of mental strength, character, and promise,” he said.

“At Ecobank, we strongly believe that chess nurtures leadership. Every move matters. Every decision has consequences.

“Success requires patience, planning, adaptability, and courage. The same values needed to navigate and thrive in today’s rapidly changing world.”

He commended the students, coaches, teachers, and parents for sustaining the culture of educational competition and intellectual growth.

“To all the students who participated, I want to say this: Whether you leave here today with a trophy or not, you are all winners,” Adewuyi added.

The championship also drew praise from new sponsors. Adesuwa Nwokedi of New Cross Exploration & Production Limited said supporting the initiative aligned with the company’s vision of youth development.

“When we were approached this year, it was a no-brainer to support, not only because of the relationship, but also because of our belief in building the future leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

“No, very impressed, in fact, yeah, I’m very impressed.”

For organisers and stakeholders, however, the competition represents more than an annual tournament. It is increasingly viewed as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s intellectual and sporting future.

Adewole believes the country may finally be laying the foundation for producing its first chess grandmaster.

“Nigeria has been part of the world body for over 50 years, and we have not produced a grandmaster,” he said.

“But we want to be the first in West Africa to actually produce a grandmaster. I believe those grandmasters are in this hall today.”