An 8-year-old boy who lives in a homeless shelter won the New York state chess championship for his age bracket, one step on the way to his ultimate goal.
“I want to be the youngest grandmaster,” Tanitoluwa Adewumi, a Nigerian refugee who goes by Tani, told The New York Times. He went undefeated at the tournament after learning chess a little over a year ago.
Tani’s family fled northern Nigeria in 2017, as Boko Haram terrorists were killing Christians like themselves. Tani began attending P.S. 116 (Mary Lindley Murray School) after they moved to the city, and learned chess under a part-time chess teacher there.
“It’s an inspiring example of how life’s challenges do not define a person,” said Jane Hsu, the principal of P.S. 116, which held a pep rally to celebrate Tani’s victory.
Teachers said the boy works very hard.
“He is so driven,” said his school chess teacher, Shawn Martinez. “He does 10 times more chess puzzles than the average kid. He just wants to be better.”
“He smiled every time he did anything on the board or learned something new,” Martinez told NBC New York. “I could just tell this game was for him.”
“He works very hard at his game,” Martinez added to USA Today, estimating Tani could achieve master status “in the next year or two.”
The state championship win just cemented the high potential for the boy. “It’s unheard of for any kid, let alone one in a homeless shelter,” said Russell Makofsky, who oversees the P.S. 116 chess program. Tani is now preparing for the national championship, which is scheduled for May.
Makofsky took to GoFundMe to launch a fundraiser for Tani and his family, writing: “Tani and his family have been living in a HOMELESS SHELTER. Tani IS ALL HEART! Let’s all show our HEART and help Tani’s family secure a home where he can continue on his journey.”
As of March 19, the GoFundMe has raised nearly $150,000.
Makofsky said the family was set to appear on the “Today” show on Tuesday.
The chess teacher also said the family has received a slew of offers.
“Today was beyond words. We came together, everyone came together. From all ends of the earth we came together. There were those who gave $5, there were those who gave $500, there were those who offered jobs, there were those who offered cars, there were those who offered homes, there were those who offered legal services, there were those who gave words of love,” he wrote on Monday.
“Today was all love. Thank you,” he added.
One man sent Mafosky a Facebook message, offering a place in his home for the family.
“This is a touching story and I’m glad it came across my news feed this morning. I am a Nigerian single father of (almost 9) year old Twins living in Ohio. I have been teaching my Twins chess for the last year. I would like to help the Adewumi family and can offer a place to live in my home (4 bedroom that I can convert to 5 bedroom),” the man wrote.
“Tani can be registered in the local school district, which is one of the nation’s top rated. I have a car the father can use to drive uber.”
