I’m really excited to be making my first post here. I’m new to the platform, but I’ve been hearing great things about Hive how it gives people a space to share their stories, connect with others, and actually get rewarded for being themselves.
Big shoutout to my guy 
I’m Toluwanimi Okemakinde, a student at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, currently in my 4th year studying Urban and Regional Planning. I wouldn’t call myself a bookworm, but I try to stay on top of things academically. Outside the classroom, I’m really into sports especially football and table tennis. I also enjoy watching movies, anime, and vibing to slow, emotional music. Artists like Aurora, Billie Eilish, and Lana Del Rey are always on repeat for me.
My journey into chess started in a pretty unexpected way. When I was 10, my parents put a stop to my dream of pursuing football seriously and to be honest, I was heartbroken. Just about a week later, I found myself sneaking into my school’s chess club meeting. Back then, only the brightest students were allowed to join, mostly to keep the club from getting overcrowded. I wasn’t on that list, but curiosity got the better of me. I got caught almost immediately, but the instructor let me stay because of my second name “Richmond”.
That moment changed everything. Within days, I became the best player in the school. A month later, I was representing the school in competitions and performing well. It was the first time I had ever excelled at anything, and that feeling lit a fire in me. That was the true beginning of my chess journey.
My junior years were filled with incredible moments. I had a great run, finishing at the top in some of the most prestigious youth tournaments across the country. Those performances opened doors, one of the biggest being the chance to represent Nigeria at the Zonal 4.4 U-16 Championship in Ghana. Another highlight was participating in the Grand Chess Tour 2018 in Ivory Coast, where I got to see some of the world’s best players up close Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and more.
After my junior years, stepping into the main stage was a whole different game. It wasn’t easy. In the junior category, I was one of the top dogs but now, I had to start all over, grinding from the bottom ranks and proving myself again. The competition was tougher, the players more experienced, and every point was a battle.
I took things more seriously. I began studying opening theory in-depth, analyzing my own games, and working hard to improve my weaknesses. Slowly but surely, the work started to show. I began holding my own against some of the top players in the country.
In just a year, I pushed my classical rating from 1800+ to 2100+. I started 2022 ranked 79th in Nigeria and finished the year at 2102, ranked 17th. One of the highlights of that year was winning the South-South Chess Championship in Uyo one of the toughest tournaments in the country, where I scored 8/9, finishing ahead of Grandmaster Hesham Abdelrahman from Egypt. That win was a major confidence boost and a sign that I was finally breaking through.
2023 was the year I genuinely thought I’d take over Nigerian chess haha. Things started fast. Before the first quarter of the year was over, I had already gained over 100 rating points, won another major tournament, and for the first time, broke into the 2200+ rating range, earning my Candidate Master (CM) title. I was ranked in the top 10 players in the country, and it felt like everything was finally falling into place.
I decided to take the next big step in my career playing in my first norm tournament in Casablanca, Morocco, where one could earn GM or IM norms. I was beyond excited. I traveled to Abuja to process my visa and even booked my flight in advance. But then everything slowed down. The visa process dragged far longer than expected. I went through weeks of emotional and psychological stress, watching my opportunity slip away day by day.
By the time my visa was finally approved, the tournament was already halfway through and I had missed my flight. At that point, I felt completely drained. I had lost hope. But thanks to my family and friends, who rallied around me, I was able to raise funds, reschedule my flight, and join the tournament at round 6.
Despite everything, I played the final 4 rounds and scored 3.5 out of 4, finishing as the third-best African player in the event. It wasn’t the full experience I had planned for, but it proved something important that I could bounce back from setbacks and still show up strong.
By late 2023, I had broken into the top 5 in Nigeria, a huge milestone that earned me a spot at the National Chess Championship. This was it the tournament where everything mattered. But instead of rising to the occasion, I experienced the worst performance of my entire career: 2 draws, 9 losses, and a painful last-place finish. I lost over 100 rating points in one event. It was devastating.
That tournament broke me. I dropped in the rankings, lost confidence, and went through a period of emotional and mental exhaustion. It was the hardest time of my life as a chess player.
But I wasn’t ready to quit.
In 2024, I didn’t qualify automatically by rating. I had to go through the NCC qualifiers and earned the very last slot. I returned to the championship more focused and prepared. My performance still wasn’t what I hoped for, but it was an improvement. I held my head up not because I won, but because I showed up again after everything.
Now it’s 2025, and I’m still here, grinding my way back to the top. I’m currently rated 2196 and ranked #8 in Nigeria. The journey hasn’t been perfect, but I’ve come a long way and I’m still pushing.
Beyond competing, I now work with a chess academy where I’ve taught kids, beginners, and intermediate players, helping them discover the beauty of the game just like I once did. Teaching has become more than a side role it’s a part of who I am. Chess isn’t just something I play anymore; it’s something I live. It’s shaped me as a player, a mentor, and a person.
The dream is still alive and I’m not done yet.
Looking back, chess has given me more than medals or ratings, it’s given me purpose, resilience, and a deep sense of identity. From sneaking into a school chess club to standing on national and international stages, the journey has been anything but easy. There have been wins, losses, breakthroughs, and breakdowns but through it all, I’ve kept moving forward, one move at a time.
I’m grateful for how far I’ve come, and even more excited for what’s ahead. Whether I’m playing, teaching, or just sitting quietly with a board in front of me, I know I’m right where I’m meant to be.
Thanks for reading my story. Let’s see where this game takes me next.
