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8-year-old chess champion who was living in shelter is no longer homeless

A homeless 8-year-old Nigerian refugee who recently won the New York State chess championship now has a place to live, thanks to thousands of people who raised money to help him and his family.

According to the New York Times, Tanitoluwa Adewumi and his family left Nigeria in 2017 when they feared they would become the target of Boko Haram terrorists. Tani, his older brother and his parents obtained asylum in New York City, where they have since lived in a Manhattan homeless shelter – and it is during their time there that Tani learned to play chess

The hobby turned into a passion that would eventually lead to him making headlines across the country.

In just a little more than a year since first learning the game, he earned first place at the 52nd New York State Scholastic Championships tournament for kindergarten to third-grade players in March. The skillful elementary school student went undefeated throughout the tournament, which featured players from elite private schools with private chess tutors, the New York Times reported. Tani’s impressive accomplishment even got the attention of former president Bill Clinton, who invited him to his offices in Harlem.

But what happened after he won may be even more remarkable than his victory.

Read the full story at People.
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