Seven-year-old chess prodigy Tiahna Njeri making her moves on the international stage

Her journey began when she was barely 18 months old, after she became fascinated by watching her parents, particularly her mother, Pauline Murithi, play chess at home.

Initially, she would reach for the pieces and move them around, simply imitating what her parents were doing. Recognizing her curiosity, they introduced her to the different chess pieces and taught her how they moved.

By the age of two, Tiahna could identify all the pieces by name. However, her early understanding of the game came with a few amusing interpretations. She once believed that white pieces could only move on white squares, while black pieces had to remain on black squares.

Her parents nurtured the interest rather than allowing it to fade, eventually enrolling her for structured training under Joseck Osoro, a chess coach at Playstreet School in Lavington.

Tiahna's first major competitive test came at the age of five when she entered the Under-8 Girls category at a tournament held at Alliance Girls High School. Her performance earned her qualification for the national competition at Kitale National Polytechnic, where she scored 4.5 points.

It was an important introduction to competitive chess, exposing her to the pressure of tournament play and opponents of different abilities.

Her breakthrough came on October 4, 2025, when, aged six, she won the Under-7 Girls category at the second edition of the Brookhurst International Open Youth Chess Championship, claiming her first major trophy.

She continued her impressive run at the 2026 Africa Under-17 Chess Championship Kiambu qualifiers, finishing second before securing third place nationally at the Kenya Under-17 National Chess Championship.

The latter result was a proud moment for Grandstart School in Ruiru, Kiambu County, which she represented.

More recently, she competed in the Open section of the 2026 KCB Open Chess Championship at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen, finishing among the top five players in her Under-7 category.

For a player still in the early stages of her chess journey, the results point to considerable promise.

However, Tiahna's ambitions extend beyond trophies and podium finishes. Her mother describes her as a sharp young girl who excels in activities that capture her interest.

Through chess, she is developing patience, concentration, critical thinking, and confidence—qualities her family believes will serve her well both on and off the board.

Despite qualifying for international competitions, Tiahna is yet to represent Kenya outside the country, with other commitments having previously prevented her from travelling.

Her family, however, remains committed to creating opportunities for her to compete against players from different countries and gain valuable experience.

She is expected to travel to Namibia in early December 2026 for another international assignment, where she will have an opportunity to test her abilities against a wider field.

At seven years, three months and 15 days, Tiahna's journey is only beginning. But with the support of her family, guidance from her coach, and an evident passion for the game, the young player is already making promising moves towards a bright future in chess.