2,706 Players Compete For A Cause: Chess In Slums Africa Fundraiser

Chess In Slums Africa partnered with Chess.com to reach the goal of raising $50,000 to bring the education and joy of chess to 5,000 children in Africa. With an arena tournament played on Chess.com, and with a powerhouse team of commentators and guests, the event has so far generated $17,764 (at the time of writing) on Friday.

We thank those who have already donated and you can still donate here to help reach the goal. The promotional trailer below explains the campaign in just over one minute:

The stream was hosted by Chess In Slums Africa founder Tunde Onakoya, along with GM Maurice Ashley, IM Kassa Korley, and guest visits by Cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals Chidobe Awuzie, Chess.com's CCO Danny Rensch, and ChessKid CCO FM Mike Klein, who should be planning his visit to Nigeria after this tweet:

If I get 1000 likes, I'll go to Nigeria to give a simul. https://t.co/im9XARi8rw

— Mike Klein (@ChessMike) December 19, 2023

The final and most distinguished guest was Jamiu Ninilowo, a student of Onakoya's who shared the life lessons he learned from chess. It's stories like his that embody the mission.

• Chess Moments: An Upset, Self-Mate, and 'Searching For Bobby Fischer check'
• Action Off The Board: Highlights From Guests

Memorable Chess Moments

The tournament, with a 3+0 time control, was a four-hour arena with 2,706 (!) participants. It featured players of all levels, from beginners to grandmasters like GM Benjamin Bok, who joined after the first hour and a half. FM Javier Benitez finished first in the gigantic event.

(See full standings here.)

One of the biggest and earliest upsets of the tournament was an 1800-rated player TheWinner100000's victory against their Spanish countryman IM David Martinez. Black was worse or losing for most of the game but things quickly turned around with the disruptive 29...f3!. 

On the stream, Ashley exclaimed: "The baptismal waters that were spilled in that game!"

Some games were interesting but for different reasons altogether. Like this checkmate in two moves:

The following endgame shouldn't have been that exciting, with an extra bishop and pawn for one side. But boluwatife22's method of converting here was spectacular, prompting the comment from Ashley: "He's got Searching for Bobby Fischer check! That was nasty!"

He's got Searching for Bobby Fischer check! That was nasty!

—Maurice Ashley

Action Off The Board

Amid the chess action, there were also some memorable non-chess moments. After a deep discussion about the challenges overcome this year, Rensch also did 50 pushups before leaving the stream. The following clip includes the first installment of 30 (according to Ashley, 35 according to Rensch). 

Asked if he'd ever underpromoted in a classical game, Klein replied that he'd done so twice—and both in the same game! He went on to lose.

Before leaving the stream, Klein asked Onakoya if he could rename an opening, which one he'd choose. The latter responded that he'd rename the London System the Yoruba System, named after the local language he speaks.

The last, special guest was one of Onakoya's students, Ninilowo. He shared a story about his first time playing an international master at his first tournament, concluding: "Meeting new kids, like kids from a rich background... playing with them on the same table gives me the sense of, OK, I can also become something better."

OK, I can also become something better.

—Jamiu Ninilowo

We are still aiming at the goal of raising $50,000 to make an immeasurable difference in the lives of children. Thank you to everybody who donated and all additional donations are appreciated.

Previous coverage:

• Chess For A Cause: Join Our First Tournament And Help Educate 5,000 Kids
• Chess.com Partners With Chess In Slums-Africa