This 10-year-old chess master has a testimony that includes not just the famous strategy game, but a story of outstanding faith.
A little boy by the name of Tanitoluwa Adewumi – or Tani for short – used to be a homeless refugee living in the Big Apple, also known as New York City. What brought him there was his Christian faith. Or rather persecution for the faith that he and his family upheld. They had been pushed out of the African nation of Nigeria by an Islamic terrorist group called Boko Haram.
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Though they left their original home, they were able to find a new home in America. Better yet, their Christian faith guided them somewhere not only safer but a place with a very great opportunity for the young boy.
Becoming A 10-Year-Old Chess Master
Tani has become what those on the chess scene call a chess prodigy. This happened after he first discovered the game while living homeless in America.
His teacher, Russel Makofsky, just so happened to host school's chess club. What a coincidence some would say, or maybe this was an act of God.
"Our God has done it again today. Tanitoluwa won Chess Club of Fairfield Connecticut championship," Kayode shared, Tani's father. His father posted the message on Facebook, which included a photo of the boy with two trophies. He looks both happy and quite accomplished in the picture.
Since his last win, the US Chess Federation has now regarded Tanitoluwa as the 28th youngest person to become a chess master. How amazing!
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The 10-year-old chess master said in an interview with NPR, "I'm very happy that I won and that I got the title. I'm very happy with myself. I really love that I finally got it."
"[Life], it's better I would say, but I thank God for everything that He's done for our family," he added.
God Delivers This Faithful Family
Tani and his family left a country where persecution against Christians is common, especially where they were living in northern Nigeria. They initially left in 2017 and came to the States. Then after more time passed, in 2019 two important things happened. First, the family moved out of their homeless shelter.
Writer Nicholas Kristof wrote columns on the young boy, describing the kid's growth over time. People responded to those writings by offering money to a Go Fund Me, which granted the family much financial assistance including a year of free housing.
Secondly, a book was written about the chess prodigy called, My Name Is Tani … and I Believe in Miracles: The Amazing True Story of One Boy's Journey from Refugee to Chess Champion.
Clearly, God has already preserved and blessed this family. May He continue to do so, guiding them into a brighter future, while also guiding this 10-year-old chess master to make an even greater name for himself (whilst spreading the Gospel). For a son of God who has already done so much, what else is in store?
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"I say to myself that I never lose, that I only learn because when you lose you have to make a mistake to lose that game. So you learn from that mistake. … So losing is a way of winning for yourself."
WATCH: The Inspiring Journey Of 10-Year-Old Chess Master
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h/t: Christian Post
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/NBC News