Tanitoluwa “Tani” Adewumi
A 10-Year-Old Nigerian Refugee to USA!
by John Bain
Tani is the USA’s newest and for now youngest living* USA National Master, at the age of 10!
Tani, a 5th grader at PS 116 in New York City, earned the title on Saturday May 1, 2021 by winning the Chess Club of Fairfield County (CT) Championship with a perfect 4-0 score, beating two Experts, one National Master, and one International Master.
Tani’s family moved to the USA in 2017 to flee religious persecution in their native Nigeria, initially living in a homeless shelter.
While living in a homeless shelter with his mom, dad and brother, seven-year-old “Tani” won the 2019 New York K-3 Chess Championship.
Tani learned to play chess at 7 years old. His play improved month by month!
When Tani and his family arrived in New York City from Nigeria, a Christian pastor helped place them in a homeless shelter. Tani attended the local elementary school, P.S. 116, which had a part-time chess teacher who taught Tani’s class how to play.
*Only a handful of other USA children–Abhi Mishra, Andy Woodward, Rachael Li, Ryo Chen, etc–have earned the National Master title by 10 years old, but today Tani is the newest, youngest living National Master for the time being.