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New Yorker Justus Williams, 12, has set the record as the youngest black chess player ever to reach the level of chess master.

“I am really proud of Justus because he keeps breaking records and making history,” said Latisha Ballard, Justus’ mother, after the young chess whiz hit the 2,200 point barrier during a chess event on September 23 to achieve the master rating.

The U.S. Chess Federation awards the title of National Master to anyone who earns a USCF rating of 2,200.

Another New Yorker, Kassa Korley, 16, had held the record as the youngest black chess master.

Justus achieved the master ranking just weeks after a disappointing performance at his first international competition, the Pan-American Youth Chess Festival in Brazil.

Ballard said he was compromised by the language barrier and had trouble understanding the tournament rules for the event.

Ballard expects no such roadblocks in Justus’ next international contest, the World Youth Championship in Halkidiki, Greece, October 19–31, after achieving one of his lifetime goals in becoming a chess master.

Justus is currently the highest-rated chess player in the United States in his age and gender group and ranks fourth overall in the World Chess Federation international rankings for age group.

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article courtesy of BVVoices.com

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