The management of Lagos-based grandmasters’ training project, Midechess Team has set a target of winning an African title and getting better ratings for its students before the current year runs out, Sports247 reports.
This was disclosed by the team’s founder and head of operations, Mr Olumide Akindayini, who declared that they want to produce more top rated chess players who will make Nigeria proud globally in years to come.
Akindayini declared emphatically that Midechess Team, which was founded in 2019 and is currently based at National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, want to surpass their historic outing at the World School Team Chess Championship in 2023, which is their biggest achievement so far.
The highly acclaimed FIDE Licensed School Instructor (SI), national arbiter and director of Midechess World enthused that the efforts of all their players, led by the captain, Daniel Taiwo, give him and officials of the project reason to expect great results in days to come.
He added, “Some of the notable rated players in the team include Adekanye Adejuwon Ariff, Amir Obe, Edward Peculiar, Edward Timileyin, Daramola Michelle, Daramola Amanda, Ogunseye Forefunmi, Oni Elizabeth, and Odukogbe Grateful.
“Our major achievements in past years include the fact that one of our partner institutions, Platform Schools, is currently regarded as the best academic centre with students who play chess in Nigeria.
“The school won the Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship in 2025, emerged champions in the maiden edition of the National Chess Championships in 2023, and finished as runners-up in 2024. They also won the Lagos State Chess Championship in 2024.
“Additionally, several members of Midechess Team are gold medalists at the National Youth Games. The team is currently preparing for this year’s Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship and the National Chess Championships.”
While affirming that their biggest target for 2026 is to win a major African chess event and have more players cross the 2000-level rating mark, Akindayini reasoned that the project should be able to reach another height in the global feat they pulled off three years ago.
He recalled, “One of our biggest milestones was representing Nigeria at the World School Team Chess Championship in Kazakhstan in 2023, but we want to do more than that this year.
“We have many plans on our schedule and we have people who can bring results, but we need a lot of support to do it. This is a great time for sports development in Nigeria.
“That’s because awareness is growing and more parents are supporting their children’s talents. However, for chess to keep growing, we need more corporate sponsorship and partnerships to help nurture young talents.”
Akindayini concluded with a charge to chess administrators, officials, sponsors and players in Nigeria to keep on doing all positives things they have been involved in for the sport and predicted that they will always get good results for their efforts.
He asserted, “Supporting these players not only helps them achieve greatness, but also gives brands the opportunity to be part of inspiring success stories. This has been done to an extent, but we need more.
“The Nigeria Chess Federation, from the previous administration to the current one, has been doing some great and commendable work. They have been doing well, and I am optimistic about the future of chess in Nigeria.”
