Last year, my students represented their school at the National School Chess Tournament in Nigeria, where they played as a team and competed against over 100 primary schools. They played brilliantly, winning six matches and drawing one, finishing in 1st place and bringing home the trophy. Watching them excel was incredibly rewarding, knowing the hours we spent training paid off. It was their first major competition and they absolutely crushed it.
The most interesting part? I also participated in the same tournament not in the primary category of course haha, but in the tertiary division, where my school “University of Lagos” competed against other top institutions across the country. We also had a strong performance, winning five matches and drawing one. We finished first place, lifting the trophy. It was such a joyful moment for me as both a player and a coach.
This year, we returned for the second edition. The competition was even tougher this time around, with a lot of young bloods hungry for a win. I was one of the top seeds of the event and supposedly my team’s ace, but I fell victim to one of the top junior players in the tournament. I was totally crushed.
Thankfully, my team came through, we won that match 4-1, with my teammates delivering on their boards. Honestly that loss was a wake-up call. A quick reminder that I’m not invincible. I picked myself up, regained my form, and won all my remaining rounds, including some very important games. I ended up securing a silver medal on my board.
In the end, University of Lagos won all six matches, taking home the trophy again making it back to back championships. It was a proud moment for me, and a reminder that the journey isn’t just about winning, it’s about learning, bouncing back, and showing up stronger!
