Check mate!!

These were the first few words 12-year-old, Jadon Simiyu, would hear from his brother at the age of five, while he was playing chess.

Inspired by his brother, he started taking chess lessons from him.

Seven years down the line, he is now a national chess champ who has represented Kenya in Zambia for the under 10 years’ boys’ chess championship and is set to grace South Africa for the Africa Youth and Cadets chess championship in June 2024.

When a team from Mtaa Wangu arrived at Jadon’s home, we were welcomed by dozens of trophies and medals displayed in the living room.

Jadon Simiyu displays the medals he has won in various Chess championships across the world on May 6, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Blue, red, white stripped medal holders surrounded the beautiful gold and silver medals the young champ has received for acing at chess.

Read: Sasha Mongeli: Determined, brilliant and the best female chess player in Kenya

Jadon had his chess board well arranged on the dining table ready to take up a chess match with his dad, whom he says has been very pivotal in sharpening his chess skill alongside his 16-year-old brother.

As we interact through a match, Jadon tells Mtaa Wangu that chess was not his first love; football had taken that place.

“After taking lessons from my brother, I attended several chess championships and I lost in most games. This discouraged me and I took a five-year break from chess and pursued football as my preferred sport,” he reveals.

However, it was until 2022 that he decided to pick up chess again, making his re-entry through the chess 2022 chess qualifiers, where he notes losing to a six-year-old while he was ten years discouraged him.

“The qualifiers almost dimmed my chess spirit. However, my mom encouraged me to keep going. After this, the chess nationals to be held in Mombasa were just coming up and I self-trained myself at home. It was at this event that I carded my first position at the under 10 boys and represented Kenya in Zambia,” he says smiling.

Jadon and his father Jimmy play a round of chess at their Kiamunyi home on May 6, 2024.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Following his international debut, Jadon has excelled in most tournaments consequently attracting the highest rating in his category (Under 12 years boys).

In the just concluded national chess championship held in Mang'u high in April, Jadon finished position three having won 8/8 of his chess matches, qualifying him to play in the playoff- a pool in which players representing the country on international matches are selected.

Related: Nine year old to represent Kenya in International chess championship

“At the playoffs I got eight points and became the national champion. Now, I am so excited about playing in south Africa. My wish is to get a gold medal and attain a candidate master (CM) ranking,” he concludes

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