Kenya’s chess history has once again been rewritten, this time by 13-year-old Jadon Simiyu. The Grade Seven pupil at Moi Primary and Junior School, Kabarak in Nakuru, is now Kenya’s youngest top seed, and Fide Master (FM).
While he achieved the conditional FM title twice -- after clinching gold in the Africa Youth Chess Championship (AYCC) Under-12 category in South Africa in June 2024, and the 2025 African Schools Individuals Chess Championship (ASICC) U13 category in Mombasa in May -- it was only after his impressive performance in the 2025 Quo Vadis Chess Championship, held in Nyeri in June, that he officially secured the title. Simiyu is now Kenya’s highest rated chess player, with an impressive Fide elo rating of 2132. Candidate Masters (CMs) Robert Mcligeyo, Ben Magana, and Ben Nguku follow with ratings of 2088, 2024, and 2008, respectively. “It feels amazing,” quipped Simiyu on being both Kenya’s youngest top seed and FM. “I look forward to more tournaments where I will get to test my abilities against the best,” he said. Previously, the youngest player to hold Kenya’s top seed position was Mcligeyo, who achieved the feat at just 17 years old in February 2023. At the time, the reigning Kenya National Chess Champion topped the standings alongside veteran Magana with ratings of 2027 each.
Following the confirmation of Simiyu’s FM title early this month, Kenya now boasts of three players who have become Fide Masters in the history of the game. The others are veterans Martin Gateri and Stephen Ouma. The FM title is so far the highest achievement by a Kenyan in chess.
