Chess4Change returns with 12 schools

An expanded second edition of the Chess4Change initiative is set to kick off with 12 schools participating. The students’ tournament sponsored by leading auditing firm, PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC), had six schools in what was termed the pilot edition.

That edition, which held in February 2014, had schools selected across the Lagos State Education District (III) and the schools were Kings College Lagos, Kuramo Senior College V.I and Falomo Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi.  Others were Holy Child College, Ikoyi, Government Senior College V.I, Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior Secondary School, Osborne Ikoyi.

The selected schools went through a three- month of chess tutoring sessions from which six outstanding chess scholars were picked to represent each pilot school in a grand slam tournament.

A grand slam tournament was organised at the end of the three-month chess tutoring session with Kings College Lagos emerging winner both in the team and individual categories. Gifts and cash prizes were presented to all the Winners.

Feelers from some of the schools indicate that the students are eagerly awaiting the tournament which has the objective of inculcating in young Nigerians the capacity for strategic and critical thinking which is inherent in Chess game.

The Lagos State Chess Association (LSCA) had in 2012 rolled out the Chess4Change tournament with 25 schools participating. The tournament was later adopted by PwC who identified with the initiative to give it greater traction with plans to make it a Lagos State-wide event for schools.