James A. Black Jr. is an American chess player.

James Black Jr.
Black in 2011
CountryUnited States
Born1998 (age 25–26)
Brooklyn, New York[1][2]
FIDE rating2171 (August 2019)
Peak rating2232 (July 2012)

Chess career

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He learned chess from his father at the age of 8, and was mentored by Alexander Stripunsky[3] and Elizabeth Vicary.[4]

In 2011, Black, along with fellow New Yorkers Joshua Colas and Justus Williams, became the youngest African-American chess players to achieve the title of USCF Master; all doing so before the age of 13.[5] In 2016, Black, alongside Colas and Williams, won chess scholarships to Webster University, playing under the team coached by Susan Polgar.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ Hsu, Jennifer (June 6, 2011). "James, The Chess Champ".
  2. ^ "African-American Boys Master the Game of Chess". BET.
  3. ^ McClain, Dylan (June 28, 2011). "One Move Ahead of Opponents, and Two Ahead of Trouble".
  4. ^ Shabazz, Daaim (July 18, 2011). "James Black makes Master!".
  5. ^ "In Conversation with National Masters James Black and Joshua Colas!". October 31, 2014.
  6. ^ Abdul-Alim, Jamaal (May 19, 2016). "African-American Chess Masters Making Move to Next Level".
  7. ^ Jones, Maya (September 22, 2016). "Chess Masters: These young black men ain't no rook-ies".
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