Tani Adewumi Crosses 2400 Rating, Completes Final Requirement for IM Title

Breaking News: Tani Adewumi on the Verge of International Master Title

In a remarkable journey from a homeless shelter to the brink of chess greatness, 14-year-old Tani Adewumi is on the road to achieving the prestigious title of International Master. In the ongoing NYC Chess Norms Spring 2025 tournament, Adewumi crossed the 2400 live rating mark in round five, fulfilling the final requirement for the IM title. Once confirmed by the FIDE Council, he will hold the second-highest title in chess.

Adewumi, who already has four IM norms, has a current score of 5/7 in the tournament. The standings after seven rounds are eagerly awaited by fans and supporters.

The young Nigerian-American prodigy first captured national attention five years ago when he won the New York State Scholastic Primary Championship shortly after learning the basics of chess. Living in a homeless shelter in Manhattan at the time, his inspiring story led to a successful fundraising campaign that enabled his family to move out of the shelter.

Since then, Adewumi has continued to excel in the chess world, earning the title of National Master at age 10 and becoming a FIDE Master in 2022. His recent achievement of crossing the 2400 rating mark has set the stage for his next goal: the grandmaster title. Adewumi will now aim to earn three grandmaster norms and surpass the 2500-rating barrier, a feat achieved by only two African Americans before him.

Despite a setback in round six of the tournament, Adewumi’s impressive performance has already secured his place as an International Master. If he wins his last two games to finish with 7/9, he will also earn his first grandmaster norm.

As a ChessKid ambassador and host of his own show, “Tani Time,” Adewumi continues to inspire young chess enthusiasts around the world. Stay tuned for reactions from Tani and his family as the tournament progresses.