K. K. Karanja

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]

Kangugi wa Karanja
Full name Kangugi wa Karanja
Country United States / Kenya
Born November 23, 1973
New York, USA
Title USCF National Master

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 (Frank Street, Jr. was the first, winning the 1965 US Amateur Championship).[2]

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 All-America Chess Team, which recognizes the top 0.1-0.2 percent of chess players age 18 years and younger.[5] He was the first African-American to make the team, with only four having qualified since: Shearwood McClelland III in 1995, Justus Williams and Josh Colas in 2010, and James Black, Jr. in 2011.[6][7] Karanja also qualified for the 1987 U.S. Cadet Championship where only the top eight players under age 16 are invited to compete.[8]

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.[9] Of the 59 players to compete against Kasparov, only Karanja and fellow prodigy Josh Waitzkin held Kasparov to draws (the other 57 players lost).[10][11]

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 Howard Daniels (15 years, 4 months).[1] He subsequently attended Carleton College.[8]

A sample of Karanja's ability is evidenced in the following game from the 1987 United States Cadet Chess Championship.[12]

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.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Chess Drum's Historic Moments: Baraka Shabazz & K.K. Karanja"
  2. ↑ "NEW YORK DAY BY DAY: Titleholders on East Side" (broken link)
  3. ↑ List of Aspis Prize Winners 1980-1994 by chessworld.org.
  4. ↑ "KK Karanja"
  5. ↑ "School Mates" chess magazine, Fall 1987.
  6. ↑ The League: Black Ivy Alumni League: "Shearwood McClelland III"
  7. ↑ Young Titans in Blitz Battle!
  8. 1 2 The Chess Drum: "A Friend Reflects on KK Karanja" July 26, 2003
  9. ↑ "People: Quints turning 18 Series", St. Petersburg Times, Feb 23, 1988, page 3A, reprinted at TampaBay.com
  10. ↑ Chess Champ Checks Out U.S. Opponents
  11. ↑ Reynolds, Maura, "Pupils No Match For Kasparov, Even Simultaneously", The New York Times, February 23, 1988.
  12. ↑ Karanja-Seltzer

External links

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