Of those masters, just 13 of them are under the age of 14.
Of those 13, three are African American boys from the New York City area — Justus Williams, Joshua Colas and James Black, Jr. — each achieved master status at age 12.
“Masters don’t happen every day, and African American masters who are 12 never happen,” said Maurice Ashley, the only black chess master to earn the top title of grandmaster. “To have three young players do what they have done is something of an amazing curiosity. You normally wouldn’t get something like that in any city of any race.”
Ashley, now 45, became a master at age 20 and a grandmaster 14 years later.
The Chess Federation uses a rating system to measure ability based on the results of matches won in officially sanctioned events. A player reaching a rating of 2,200 qualifies for master.
Last year, Justus, who is now 13, was the first of the three boys to get to 2,200, making him the youngest black player ever to obtain the master rank. Not long after Justus achieved that rare honor, Joshua, 13, replaced him in the record books by achieving master ranking while still a few months younger than Justus was. James, 12, became a master in July.
Although they are competitors, the boys are also friends who recognize that others see them as role models.
“I think of Justus, me and Josh as pioneers for African American kids who want to take up chess,” James said.
All three of the boys have set their sights on becoming grandmasters by the time they graduate from high school, a feat only a few dozen players in the world have achieved.
Another black player, Jehron Bryant, 15, of Valley Stream, N.Y., became a master in September. If Justus, Josh and James have their way, they won’t be far behind him. —kathleen cross
