K. K. Karanja

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Kangugi wa Karanja
Full nameKangugi wa Karanja
CountryUnited States / Kenya
BornNovember 23, 1973 (1973-11-23) (age 47)
New York, U.S.
TitleUSCF National Master

Kangugi "K. K." Karanja (born November 23, 1973) is a chess player regarded as the first African-American chess prodigy. He became a US Chess Federation Candidate Master at the age of 10, the youngest African-American to do so.[1]

Career[]

Championships and awards[]

In 1985 at the age of 11, he won the National Elementary Chess Championship with a perfect 7–0 score (seven wins and no losses), becoming the first African-American to win a national scholastic title and the second African-American to win a national chess championship ( was the first, winning the 1965 US Amateur Championship).[2][citation needed]

In 1985, Karanja also received the Laura Aspis Prize, granted annually to the top USCF-rated player under the age of 13.[3] Karanja qualified as the United States representative for the 1986 World Under-14 Chess Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[4]

In 1987, Karanja was selected to the inaugural , which recognizes the top 0.1-0.2 percent of chess players age 18 years and younger.[5] Karanja also qualified for the 1987 U.S. Cadet Championship where only the top eight players under age 16 are invited to compete.[6]

Other events and achievements[]

In 1988, Karanja was selected to participate in a simultaneous exhibition held by Grandmaster and World Champion Garry Kasparov in New York, during Kasparov's first visit to America.[7] Of the 59 players to compete against Kasparov, only Karanja and fellow prodigy Josh Waitzkin held Kasparov to draws (the other 57 players lost).[8][9]

In 1989, at the age of 15 years and 7 months, Karanja became a chess master, becoming the second youngest African-American at the time to achieve that feat behind (15 years, 4 months).[1] He subsequently attended Carleton College.[6]

A sample of Karanja's ability is evidenced in the following game from the 1987 United States Cadet Chess Championship.[10]

Retirement[]

Karanja retired from tournament play in 1990 with a rating of 2193. Karanja has written one book on chess and while living in Kenya was active in promoting chess. He is now employed as a Deputy Sheriff with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in Harvey, Louisiana. [1]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Chess Drum's Historic Moments: Baraka Shabazz & K.K. Karanja"
  2. ^ "NEW YORK DAY BY DAY: Titleholders on East Side"[permanent dead link] (broken link)
  3. ^ List of Aspis Prize Winners 1980-1994 by chessworld.org.
  4. ^ "KK Karanja"
  5. ^ "School Mates" chess magazine, Fall 1987.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b The Chess Drum: "A Friend Reflects on KK Karanja" July 26, 2003
  7. ^ "People: Quints turning 18 Series", St. Petersburg Times, Feb 23, 1988, page 3A, reprinted at TampaBay.com
  8. ^ Chess Champ Checks Out U.S. Opponents
  9. ^ Reynolds, Maura, "Pupils No Match For Kasparov, Even Simultaneously", The New York Times, February 23, 1988.
  10. ^ Karanja-Seltzer

External links[]

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