Why We Sponsored Chess4Change Grand Slam – PWC

L-R: Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, winner (Individual Category), Rahmon Idowu of Lagos City College, Omobola Babs – Akinyeye, Director, Co- Curricular, Ministry of Education and Partner, PWC, Jide Adeola during the final ceremony of the PWC sponsored 3rd Chess4Change Grand Slam at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Thursday.

Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers has said that the sponsorship of Chess4Change Grand Slam in Lagos State in the last three edition was borne out of desire to build trust in the society.

The third edition of Chess4Change Grand Slam was held between Tuesday and Thursday this week at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos with participants competing for honours in 182 events for individual and team categories using the Swiss System format to determine the winners who were awarded prizes at the end of the event .

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the championship, representative of Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), Jide Adeola, said the championship was part of building trust in the society, hence the organisation of the Chess championship among the youth.

 “Chess is a game of the mind and by involving students in the game, it will enhance their abilities to be social inclined, think critically and also helps in solving important problems.

 “We feel that over time we will continue to build a young people, who can participate in solving Nigerians problems,” he said.

To the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, chess is a sport that needs to start off at an early age.

“For us in Lagos State, Chess is a game that we have always been excelling. At the National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara Lagos State got six to eight gold medals. We are the dominant state in chess at the youth level.

  “And very soon we are going to be taking it to the very next level. That is why we have a company like PWC sponsoring this competition. Very soon, we are going to be looking at quite a number of other competitions, as well as with the private sector. I think we have a good legacy in chess and we are going to build on that and improve upon it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lagos City College, Yaba and Birrel Avenue Senior High School, Sabo emerged winners in the individual and team categories in the third edition.

Rahmon Idowu scored six points to win the individual event of the grand slam title, while Moyinoluwa Lawal of Government Senior College, Eric Moore came second with five points. Egbe Benedict of Ireti Senior Grammar School, Ikoyi finished in third position also with five points.

Birrel Avenue School which scored 21 and a half points

Defeated Government Senior College Eric Moore, which amassed 17 points, while Lagos City College, Yaba third with 16 and a half points in the team’s category of the competition.