Chess Kenya (CK) is celebrating its youngster, FIDE Master (FM) Jadon Simiyu, who at the 22nd Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) won the first runner-up for the Most Promising Boy, a category that was won by F4 driver Shane Chandaria.
Born on February 16, 2012, Jadon Simiyu is a rising chess prodigy whose exceptional talent has established him as one of the most promising young players on the African continent. He began playing chess at the age of five, and by just 13, he had already secured a remarkable place in African chess history.
Jadon, the reigning Under-13 Kenyan National Champion, is currently the highest-rated active chess player in Kenya.
In 2025, made national headlines by winning the Kenya National Chess Championship, earning the top prize of a brand-new car, and is now qualified to represent Kenya at the 2026 World Chess Olympiad, scheduled for September in Uzbekistan.
Last year, 2025, he also won gold at the African Schools Chess Championship in the Under-13 category and triumphed at the highly competitive Nyeri Open, outperforming top-rated players from across the region, including South Sudan and Uganda, Jadon, a two-time African champion, has also won the Under-12 title back in 2024 and the Under-13 title in 2025, hence earning the prestigious FIDE Master (FM) title, becoming the youngest FM in East Africa, an extraordinary milestone in his career.
He has proudly represented Kenya in international tournaments across Zambia, South Africa, Serbia, Italy, and Zimbabwe, gaining valuable global experience and proving his strength against elite competition.
SOYA Awards – Most Promising Boy Category:
• Winner: Shane Chandaria (Motorsport)
• 1st Runner-up: Jadon Simiyu (Chess)
• 2nd Runner-up: Humphrey Aroko (AFC Leopards)