Tani Adewumi, a 10-year-old Nigerian-American, has just received the U.S. Chess National Master title with a rating of 2223.
Tani Adewumi | Nairaland
New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof broke the story of Tani’s latest triumph two years ago, when he first uncovered his incredible talents.
When Tani won the New York State Chess championship as an 8-year-old, he had only played the game for a year.
During that time, he lived with his refugee family in a homeless shelter.
Kristof posted an update on Facebook regarding the chess prodigy.
“Remember Tani Adewumi, the Nigerian refugee boy I wrote about a couple of years ago when he won the NY State chess championship for his age group — while living in a homeless shelter?
“Readers then stepped up and helped the family get housing and helped the parents get jobs.
“Here’s a joyful update: Tani just won another championship, in Fairfield, CT, and is now (as a 10-year-old fifth grader) a Chess National Master with a rating of 2223.
“In “Tightrope,” we wrote that Tani exemplifies the principle that “talent is universal, but opportunity is not.”
“He was able to soar because his homeless shelter was in a school district with a chess program, and the teacher realised that his family didn’t have resources and waived the chess club fees. We need more of that!”
Amidst a deadly security situation in Nigeria, Tani’s family fled to the U.S. which they claimed they were fleeing from Boko Haram terrorists.
Tani learned how to play chess at school while the family was living in a homeless shelter in Manhattan.
When the school chess coach saw the child’s potential, he asked his parents if they were interested in joining a school chess program
Tani was not charged with a membership fee to join the club.
He won several trophies, and his chess story was featured in The New York Times.
To move the family from the homeless shelter, a GoFundMe page was created. Since its launch, the site has raised $250,000.
Family members are now settled in New York City.
