As 2016 came to a close, Tani Adewumi was just five years old, and living in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. He and his family lived in a constant state of fear because the terrorist group Boko Harum was very active there; they endured harrowing attacks that eventually forced them to flee the country, their homeland.
The family ended up in a homeless shelter in Manhattan, a desolate berth after such a difficult journey. But it was in New York that young Tani would find something that would change his family's life forever: chess. Today, Tani is a 9-year-old chess phenomenon who has appeared on the Today Show and across the talk show circuit. And unbelievably, he recently moved his family into their own home.
It's a truly incredible story, so make sure to check out this week's feature article at ESPN.com. Enjoy!
Posted on 05/26/2020 at 12:27 PM