Chess prodigy. When he was 6, his family, who are devout Christians, came to the US from Nigeria, seeking religious asylum after they were threatened by the terrorist group Boko Haram and forced to flee. When he was 8, he beat 73 opponents and won the New York state chess championship for his division. At the time, he and his family were living in a homeless shelter. At age 10, he was named a National Master, and then became a FIDE Master.