A week before the 2026 edition of Nigeria’s inter-school chess competition, ChessMasters has confirmed full participation, with all 150 school slots and 750 student places completely filled ahead of the tournament scheduled for Saturday, May 2.
At a press briefing held on Thursday at Sky Restaurant, Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, organisers announced that preparations had moved into full execution mode, with co-founders Caline Moudaber and Damilola Okonkwo confirming strong sponsor backing and overwhelming school participation from across Lagos.
The competition would feature 750 pupils drawn from both public and private primary schools, all set to compete in multiple rounds over the course of the one-day event.
The organisers said the scale of participation reflects growing interest in structured chess education among young learners.
The tournament is set to begin at 8:00am and run until about 4:00pm, with structured breaks and partner activations scheduled throughout the day.
Officials also confirmed that while registration is closed, limited spectator access would be made available through a sign-up process.
Speaking at the briefing, Moudaber described ChessMasters as a grassroots idea that has grown beyond expectations, noting that early sponsor support from brands such as Mikano, Seven Up, and Fidson played a key role in its development.
Okonkwo added that the rapid sell-out of slots highlights the growing credibility of the competition, saying interest this year far exceeded previous editions and reflected stronger engagement from schools.
With registration now closed, organisers said attention has shifted fully to delivering a smooth and competitive tournament experience that continues to promote critical thinking and intellectual development among children.
