2026 SOYA Awards – FM Jadon Simiyu emerges as 2nd Runners Up
Article by Bernard Wanjala – President of the Chess Kenya Federation
FIDE Master (FM) Jadon Simiyu was honoured as one of Kenya’s top athletes at the 2026 SOYA (Sports Personality of the Year Awards), held on April 10, 2026, at Uhuru Gardens. This prestigious event celebrated outstanding achievements by elite Kenyan athletes across a wide range of sporting disciplines.
Jadon was narrowly edged out by Shane Chandaria for the Most Promising Boy award. Chandaria made history as the youngest-ever champion of the FIA-certified Indian Formula 4 Championship and the first Kenyan to achieve this milestone.
SOYA Awards – Most Promising Boy Category:
Winner: Shane Chandaria (Motorsport)
1st Runner-up: Jadon SimiyuJ (Chess)
2nd Runner-up: Humphrey Aroko (AFC Leopards)
Rising Star
Born on February 16, 2012, Jadon Simiyu is a rising chess prodigy whose exceptional talent has established him among the most promising young players in Africa. He started playing chess at five, and by 13, he had already made a significant mark on the continent’s chess history.
In 2025, Jadon made national headlines by winning the Kenya National Chess Championship, earning the top prize of a brand-new car. This historic victory also qualified him to represent Kenya at the 2026 World Chess Olympiad, scheduled for September in Uzbekistan.
Other achievements
His list of achievements continues to grow rapidly. In 2025, he won gold at the African Schools Chess Championship in the Under-13 category and triumphed at the highly competitive Quo-Vadis Championship, outperforming top-rated players from across the region, including South Sudan and Uganda.
Jadon is the reigning Under-13 Kenyan National Champion and currently the highest-rated active chess player in Kenya—a testament to his discipline, strategic brilliance, and relentless pursuit of excellence. His trophy cabinet is filled with medals from both national and international competitions.
Among his standout accomplishments, Jadon is a two-time African champion, having won the Under-12 title in 2024 and the Under-13 title in 2025. He also earned the prestigious FIDE Master (FM) title, becoming the youngest FM in East Africa—an extraordinary milestone in his career.
At the 2024 Kenya National Chess Championship, Jadon delivered an impressive performance, finishing 5th overall with 7/8 points, including five wins, two draws, and just one loss—an exceptional feat for a player of his age.
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.
Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA)
The Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), founded in 2004 by Kenyan athletics legend Paul Tergat, is an annual event that celebrates excellence across Kenya’s sporting landscape.
Link
Kenya Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) 2026 video clip.
2023 SOYA Awards – Nathaniel Manyeki emerges as 2nd Runners Up.
Chess Finally Gets Recognition With Sportsmen Of Year Award (SOYA).
