United States has granted Asylum program for 12 years old Nigerian Chess Master, Tanitoluwa Adewumi who rose to fame at just 8-years-old, when defeated 73 of the best chess players in his age group in New York to win his division in the state championship.
According to report the asylum grant was confirmed by his family on Wednesday, the boy father, Kayode Adewumi thanked God that Tani will now be able to compete the Chess internationally after being granted Asylum.
According to the father, “We thank God for his mercy and the people of America for their kindness,” Kayode Adewumi, the boy’s father, told CBS News in a text message. Kayode indicated that Tani will now be able to compete internationally”.
Tani and his family fled Nigeria in 2017 fearing attacks by the terror group Boko Haram, as the family were living in a homeless shelter while trying to support Tani’s goals of becoming a grandmaster in the sport reportedly stated.
At 10 years old, Tani became the 28th-youngest chess player to become a national master in the U.S. Chess Federation, becoming an International Chess Federation (FIDE) master, after winning the under-12 division of the North American Youth Chess Championship in 2021.