Tani Adewumi: Child refugee turned Chess National Master at 10

Tanitoluwa Adewumi has risen to be a chess National Master at the age of 10 after his family fled Nigeria in 2017. ENIOLA OYEMOLADE takes a look at the remarkable achievement of the chess prodigy.

In 2017, when Tanitoluwa Adewumi was seven years old, he and his family fled from northern Nigeria, fearing attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on Christians such as themselves.

Tani, his parents and his older brother later arrived in New York City and a pastor helped steer them to a homeless shelter. Tani began attending the local elementary school, P.S. 116, which has a part-time chess teacher who taught Tani’s class how to play.

Tani enjoyed the game and asked his mother, Oluwatoyin Adewumi, if he could join the chess club. Mrs Adewumi could not pay the fees for the programme because the family was living in a shelter. However, Russell Makofsky, who oversees the P.S. 116 chess programme, waived the fees which can easily exceed thousands with travel and chess camp admissions. In 2018, Tani took part in his first tournament with the lowest rating of any participant, 105.

Less than a year after joining the club, he had garnered seven trophies and was ranked #27 in his age category. In 2019, when he was eight years old, he was still living in a homeless shelter, but made national headlines when he defeated 73 competitors to win the New York State Scholastic Chess K-3 Championship.

“It’s unheard of for any kid, let alone one in a homeless shelter,” Russell Makofsky told USA TODAY.

His story went viral and a GoFundMe campaign, was set up by Makofsky, to help raise enough funds for Tani and his family to move into a permanent home. The GoFundMe campaign has now raised almost $255,000 for housing, legal and educational resources for Tani.

Others offered to help as well, the New York Times reported. A student gave Tani a chess clock. His mother took him to free practice sessions in Harlem, and his father, Kayode Adewumi, offered his laptop for Tani to play chess online.

It is, however, sometimes tough for Tani. His parents say that he once came home from school crying after classmates teased him for being homeless.

“And at an immigration hearing, he burst into tears when he misunderstood the judge to say that the family would be deported.”

Despite all these, Tani is really keeping his hope alive as he sets his sights on becoming the youngest grandmaster. According to International Chess Federation, he has two years to accomplish this.

On May 1, 2021, the 10-year-old Tani became one step closer to achieving his grandmaster dream by becoming the United State’s newest national chess master making him the 28th youngest person to achieve the status, according to the United States Chess Federation (USCF).

Tani achieved this great feat on May 1 at the Fairfield County Chess Club Championship, where he scored 4/4 in games with a 30-minute time control.

The national chess master title, awarded by the USCF, requires players to obtain a rating of between 2200 and 2400.

The chess prodigy achieved a rating of 2223 by defeating two chess experts, a master, and an international master, at the tournament held in Connecticut.

Tani practices for up to 11 hours every day after school, and says the secret to his success is thinking of his plays ahead of time.

“I was very happy that I won and that I got the title. On a normal position, I can do up to 20 moves [in advance],” Tani told NPR.

“It feels very wonderful; it feels very good. I’ve been trying to get it for some time now, since the pandemic, so it feels very relieving to finally get the title,” he said.

School chess coach Shawn Martinez had noted that Tani works very hard at his game.

Now, a grandmaster coach teaches Tani two or three times a week, according to a May 10 update on the GoFundMe page. But travel costs are still a challenge, and when Tani is invited to tournaments abroad, he often can’t go “while his immigration case is pending for fear he might not be allowed back into the United States.

“But his love of chess is as strong as ever,” the page said.

Kayode Adewumi had also noted on the page that “Thank God!!! Tanitoluwa Adewumi made the headlines of June 2021 US Chess Magazine for the second time.

We Adewumis are really appreciate you all.”

Many have also been elated about the progress of the 10-year-old Tani.

Some comments on the page read “I am making a second donation. It is so wonderful to know that there are people like you in the world. Although you have faced many challenges in your lives, your focus is on helping others. I wish you much love, luck, and success with your mission!” “I love that diversity enriches our country. May God continue to bless your family and that these funds provide a home you can call your own, God Bless” “Go get that GM title Tani! The US is blessed to have people coming here for a better future.” “Wishing this family all the best. They are the perfect example of a family living a very difficult life, but yet they have the will and the drive to continue to work hard. Every little helps counts!!”

Makofsky had also written, “Tani, stay humble and hungry. Actions always speak louder then words. Whatever life may bring you next, thank you – I am forever proud to be your Coach!”

Tani’s amazing path from refugee to chess champion was documented in a 2020 autobiography entitled My Name Is Tani . . . And I Believe In Miracles. The book is currently being adapted for the big screen by American author and comedian Trevor Noah.

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