How a Child Refugee Became a World Chess Champion

Fahim was tutored by one of France’s top chess coaches, Xavier Parmentier, who gave him a sense of purpose, his struggles on the chessboard mirroring both his victories and his crushing defeats in his battle for a normal life. Rising through local and national tournaments to be crowned France’s Under-12 Chess Champion in 2012, Fahim became a national sensation. Told through the clear eyes of a child, Fahim’s tale is both heartwarming and grimly eye-opening in equal measure.