Nigerian born chess champion, eight-year-old Tanitoluwa Adewumi and his family have moved into a new apartment, courtesy of goodwill donations after h
Nigerian born chess champion, eight-year-old Tanitoluwa Adewumi and his family have moved into a new apartment, courtesy of goodwill donations after his success story went viral. New York Times reports that the young Tani, who recently won the New York State Chess championship for his age bracket, got a GoFundMe drive which raised more than 200,000 dollars for him, his parents and brother.
The family has since settled in a modest and practical home. An anonymous donor paid a year’s rent on a two-bedroom apartment near Tani’s current school. The apartment is clean and comfortable without being luxurious. Another donor has offered furniture, sheets and towels while yet another is sending 100 chess books. The newspapers adds that three film companies are vying to make movies about Tani.
The young chess champion, whose family were seeking asylum and residing at a homeless shelter in Manhattan after they fled the Boko Haram insurgency, won seven chess trophies, including the state tournament, where he outwitted other children. Adewumi, went undefeated at the state tournament, outwitting children from elite private schools with private chess tutors.
Tanitoluwa’s rating is now 1587 and rising fast and he is being compared with the world’s best player, Magnus Carlsen, who stands at 2845. His feat has attracted commendations from parents and celebrities, with the story getting the attention of former US president Bill Clinton, who invited the lad and his parents to his office.
