The 2026 Ecobank National Schools’ Team Chess Championship ended in Lagos at the weekend, with Platform School, Ipaja, emerging top in the secondary school category.

The Ipaja-based school went home with N2.5 million, Dayspring School, Oyo, finished second and went home with N2 million, while Kings College, Lagos, was third and went home with N1.5 million.

The Chess in Slums Africa team representing Makoko was among the winners in the Primary School category.

The Third ECOBANK School Chess Championship saw intense competition across primary and secondary levels, showcasing remarkable strategic skill from young players.

The event took place at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos, with N20 million prize money on the pool.

This year’s edition featured 1,500 students from 300 schools and focused on nurturing strategic thinking and intellectual development.

Head of Educational and Social Services of Ecobank, Kunle Adewoyi, urged the students to strive hard to become Grand Masters in the near future.

“There are Grand Masters in Kenya, Rwanda and some other African countries, but, sadly, we don’t have any in Nigeria at the moment. It is our prayer that some of these students will become one in the near future,” he stated.

Adewoyi said that Ecobank was particular about chess sponsorship because it helps in the development of the kids.

The Vice President of the Nigerian Chess Federation, Adeyinka Adewale, was full of praise for Ecobank and other partners for sponsoring the tournament, just as he promised that next year’s edition will be bigger and better.