Kenny Solomon is a South African chess Grandmaster. He was born on October 8, 1979, and is the first player from his country to achieve this esteemed title. Solomon began playing chess domestically at the age of 13, but rapidly improved his skill at the game and began competing at an international level in 1999. He was awarded the International Master (IM) title in 2005.
Solomon's pursuit of the Grandmaster title involved extensive international play. His efforts were ultimately successful when he won the 2014 African Chess Championship, which automatically earned him the title. By achieving Grandmaster status, Solomon became a highly prominent figure in South African chess, where the game is not widely played at a professional level.
Throughout his career, Kenny Solomon also obtained numerous other achievements. He won the South African Chess Championship twice, in 2003 and 2005. Furthermore, he has represented South Africa at the Chess Olympiad many times. Away from chess, Solomon studied law at the University of Western Cape, though he ultimately decided to focus on his chess career.
Solomon continues to contribute to the development of chess in South Africa. He works to promote chess at a grassroots level, aiming to see the game infused into the broader culture of South Africa as a beneficial component of education.