K. K. Karanja
Encyclopedia
Kangugi "K. K." Karanja 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.
In 1985, Karanja also received the Laura Aspis Prize
, granted annually to the top USCF-rated player under the age of 13. The next year, despite once again being the highest rated American under age 13, he did not receive the award; this raised suspicions among many of racial discrimination. Karanja qualified as the United States representative for the 1986 World Under-14 Chess Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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. He was the first African-American to make the team, with only three having qualified since: Shearwood McClelland III in 1995, Justus Williams in 2010 and Josh Colas in 2010. Karanja also qualified for the 1987 U.S. Cadet Championship where only the top eight players under age 16 are invited to compete.
held by Grandmaster and World Champion Garry Kasparov
in New York, during Kasparov's first visit to America. Of the 59 players to compete against Kasparov, only Karanja and fellow prodigy Josh Waitzkin held Kasparov to draws
(the other 57 players lost).
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). He subsequently attended Carleton College
.
A sample of Karanja's ability is evidenced in the following game from the 1987 United States Cadet Chess Championship.
was active in promoting chess.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
player regarded as the first African-American chess prodigy
Chess prodigy
Chess prodigies are children who play chess so well that they are able to beat Masters and even Grandmasters, often at a very young age. Chess is one of the few sports where children can compete with adults on equal ground; it is thus one of the few skills in which true child prodigies exist...
. He became a US Chess Federation Candidate Master at the age of 10, the youngest African-American to do so.
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).In 1985, Karanja also received the Laura Aspis Prize
Laura Aspis Prize
The Laura Aspis Prize was an award in the game of chess. Beginning in 1980, it was awarded annually to the number one ranked American chess player under the age of 13 by the nonprofit educational foundation Chess-in-the-Schools until 1999.The prize offered a trophy and $1,500...
, granted annually to the top USCF-rated player under the age of 13. The next year, despite once again being the highest rated American under age 13, he did not receive the award; this raised suspicions among many of racial discrimination. Karanja qualified as the United States representative for the 1986 World Under-14 Chess Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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. He was the first African-American to make the team, with only three having qualified since: Shearwood McClelland III in 1995, Justus Williams in 2010 and Josh Colas in 2010. Karanja also qualified for the 1987 U.S. Cadet Championship where only the top eight players under age 16 are invited to compete.
Other events and achievements
In 1988, Karanja was selected to participate in a simultaneous exhibitionSimultaneous exhibition
A simultaneous exhibition or simultaneous display is a board game exhibition in which one player plays multiple games at a time with a number of other players. Such an exhibition is often referred to simply as a "simul".In a regular simul, no chess clocks are used...
held by Grandmaster and World Champion Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
in New York, during Kasparov's first visit to America. Of the 59 players to compete against Kasparov, only Karanja and fellow prodigy Josh Waitzkin held Kasparov to draws
Draw (chess)
In chess, a draw is when a game ends in a tie. It is one of the possible outcomes of a game, along with a win for White and a win for Black . Usually, in tournaments a draw is worth a half point to each player, while a win is worth one point to the victor and none to the loser.For the most part,...
(the other 57 players lost).
In 1989, at the age of 15 years and 7 months, Karanja became a chess master
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
, becoming the second youngest African-American at the time to achieve that feat behind Howard Daniels (15 years, 4 months). He subsequently attended Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
.
A sample of Karanja's ability is evidenced in the following game from the 1987 United States Cadet Chess Championship.
Retirement
Karanja retired from competitive chess in 1990 with a rating of 2193, just below National Master level. Karanja has written one book on chess and while living in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
was active in promoting chess.