Tani, 8-Year-Old NY State Chess Champion, Scores Biopic With Major Studio, Trevor Noah To Produce

Third grader Tanitoluwa “Tani” Adewumi learned how to play chess in the 2nd grade with the intention of becoming the youngest grandmaster in history.

While Adewumi, 8, was able to participate in a school program that helped him learn the game, he also had to deal with the stark reality that his family was living in a New York shelter after leaving Nigeria.

When he first started, he was the lowest scoring participant. Within a year, he was rising to the top ranks competing among the best players with seven trophies won. Despite his circumstances, Adewumi would go on to win the 2019 New York Chess Championship.

The story of Tani has opened the floodgates of opportunity for his family. Many people have sent the family donations, scholarship offers, an invite to meet Bill Clinton and an apartment with rent paid for the full year.

But, the story doesn’t end there. Adewumi’s incredible journey will now be documented in a film picked up by Paramount Pictures based on three books published by HarperCollins’ W Publishing.

Comedian host Trevor Noah will be producing the film, alongside Day Zero Productions’ Haroon Saleem, Norman Aladjem of Mainstay Entertainment, and Bob Teitel and George Tillman Jr. of State Street Pictures.

A release date for the film has yet to be confirmed.