Young Titans in Blitz Battle!

Congrats to these two. I look forward to hearing about them in the future. In general, I’m happy that these two are getting some attention and publicity. When we have scholastic players playing at this level, it’s important that we give them the support and the attention they deserve.

It seems that these two have great parents and a supportive network and it is very nice to see. Know that you have an entire community watching and supporting you young brothers!

(As an aside, lets be careful to make sure we foster a supportive partnership and sense of community between these two instead of a rivalry that could be unintentionally instigated by our own interest … as someone who works with scholastic players – Potential friendships are sometimes ruined from comparisons and pitting some young talent against each other in exhibition matches. Rivalries typically are not “friendly” in the scholastic world! lol But I have heard very good things about the organizer Shaala Hill so my best wishes for the event).

Political Pete made a good point!! After reading his short, but powerful reminder, I asked my son, Josh, how he would feel if Justus wins the match? Here’s what he said. “I don’t think I will lose Dad, but if I do I’ll just go back and work harder.” Having spoken with Justus’s mom on many occasion, I believe if Justus was asked the same question, he too would answer along the same line, except, and understandably, he would say that he would win. I think it’s the task of the parents to use opportunities as such, to teach their kids humility, grace and fortitude after the completion of the match, winner or loser. That’s what was past on to me and I have past it on to my kids. It is my hope that this match will inspire other talents to wake-up and work harder so we can show that we can compete intellectually as well.

Daaim,

Absolutely, the concern should be focused on the parents. We, as parents, must not let our emotion dictate our reaction. The kids will pick up on the body language and react accordingly. Our reaction can cause them to react arrogantly or feel insufficient. That would be sad, because the purpose of this meeting of minds is to foster hard work and improvement. At the end of the, I am pretty sure that the feedback you will get from the match will be POSITIVE.

I have spoken to Justus and throughout this experience he has not once made any statements regarding the “winner”. In fact he has been predicting that he may lose the match and Josh will win. He really respects Joshua as a chess player because he has seen the respectable people Josh has beaten well before reaching expert level. Justus has been very humble and is viewing Saturday as being a time where he and Josh will simply play chess and have fun. These two boys are far from the usual….they have never been cocky, arrogant after winning tournaments. Since winning tournaments has happened so frequently for both boys, i doubt the results of Saturday will change them…. Justus and the family are immensely excited about Saturday and can’t wait.

Hi Everyone!
It’s Shaala.

“Yes,” I have been reading your comments and giving them serious consideration. Just as it occurred to Political Pete and CJ Jones to mention “rivalry,” I am sure it may have occurred to others who have not written comments.

So, lets talk about it.

I believe that a “rivalry,” in a negative connotation of the word…..is an ugly competition….one without honorable players…..and one without which the players have any respect for each other as human beings or respect for the other’s strength(s) or talent(s).

Honestly and without hesitation, I will acknowledge that “winning” feels great. Anyone will tell you that. Whenever I won anything, I felt that it was “the truth.” Shaala is a star and the results couldn’t go any other way.

“Losing,” on the other hand, is inevitable…..especially when there can only be one winner…..and, “no,” it does not feel good………but only for a short while.

As a small child, when I lost, for the first time, it felt like a tragedy and I imagined that the entire world knew that I was not successful. I was ashamed and I couldn’t figure out how another child could have beaten me, given my excellent genetics.

I worshiped my parents and thought, without any details of/from their lives, that they were geniuses, superior, famous and infallible. I was their daughter……..if they were so great, then I was great…………how could I lose with this DNA?

With this first loss, my parents finally shared with me that they, too, were HUMAN and did not always win…..they had experienced defeat, on many occasions; however, they had not shared this with me. They thought that they were encouraging me to achieve and be great….and even greater than they were……when only discussing their winning moments.

Over time, just knowing that they had experienced defeat and had survived, made me a better competitor, primarily, because they assured me that no outcome was permanent. My opponent may have beaten me today, but I could beat him tomorrow…..and vice versa.

Honor….in winning or losing………is the thing that allows one to acknowledge that the winner (whoever he/she may be) has triumphed, on a particular day or on a particular occasion. That person deserves to be congratulated. Honor him/her for his/her success.

Honor….will allow one to see that he or she (the one who lost)…. was/is a worthy opponent of such a great and gracious winner.

Honor……in defeat….will allow one to assess one’s performance……and incorporate the information into a future “winning strategy.”

People who have honor…….know that there are many outstanding competitors, in any given arena. If there were only one individual…….who could ever be labeled a winner…….in any endeavor/sport……..for a lifetime……then why would anyone attempt to do anything……..to pursue any interest, hobby or sport……by study, training or practice. There would be no need and the world would be a very boring place. Wouldn’t it?

All excellent achievements (let’s say being good at sports, is one type, for example) are the direct result of “study” and “practice.”

All superior achievements (of the same or of chess) are a combination of these, plus an innate ability to master that craft with ease or comfort, often at a faster rate than others…….and being able to parlay that adeptness into a more exalted demonstration of that sport……so that a performance by such a person is spoken of as a “gift” or that athlete is said to be “in the zone”………………..or that chess player is said to be a “prodigy.”

We compete, because we know that every man and every woman have been given a “portion,” a talent, a gift, a strength, a marvelous ability. We compete, because we know that there is the possibility of being a part of an awesome match-up or pairing………..with such an individual…..a fierce competitor….who will bring out of us something we did not know we possessed.

With losing…..a very real option……one we fear……we enter the ring anyway……..on any given day……with any of these talented people……..because we feel confident……. that we, too, are well-prepared and unstoppable gladiators.

If we only thought we would win at everything and are always the greater one…….the invincible opponent…..and losing was not a possibility……then we wouldn’t ever challenge anyone……there would be no need for games of any sort.

So parents, you are instrumental in creating emotional stability and confidence in your children, especially when they are competing……….helping to build honor and fostering insight into their strengths and weaknesses……….in a world where the media would like to create tension (rivalries of the negative kind) between those who pursue the same craft or between those who have the moxy to believe that they are good at what they do. I’ve seen them do it (overtly and covertly) with basketball stars, rappers, and R&B singers.

Please let your children know that you are also HUMAN and that in everyday activities you win, garner success, accomplish, lose, make mistakes, miscalculate,etc………….and that you still love yourself………..and won’t ever give up on making things better…….through it all……you endure…….and that….above all….you love them and are proud of them, whether they are winning or losing.

I applaud the parents of Joshua and Justus….and all such parents…………teachers………chess coaches and tournament directors….who support their children/students……and help to buffer the sting to their tender feelings….when they are not successful………as they build character….mature……and become young adults.

I am a firm believer in….. this…….my paraphrased, abridged version…….of the Apocryphal statement below.

“So is a general…..so is his men.”

Actual Statement:
“As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.” Sirach Ecclesiasticus 10:2.

I am at the helm, the general if you will, of this match and any other that I host and I would love to have the spirit of my peace….in competition……become a part of the participants’ approach to competition as well. So…..”rivalry,” in its positive connotation….across the chess board or in sports……….is acceptable……..as it pushes competitors to be the best (I agree with Daaim)……..then we shake hands….when the game is over…..say “good game!”……and are or could become friends.

Shaala

Looks good, have fun today!!! Well written Shaala , seems you know more about chess than i do, and im suppose to be some kinda master at it! hehe. Peace.

Joshua won. My boy loss! and Ralphie won the game against Po

the score for the j vs. j was 3/9
the Po vs ralphie……i’m not sure but it was a lost by a landslide!!!

Dual Blitz Match Results

YOUNG LIONS:
Joshua Colas 9
Justus Williams 3
Draws 0

MEN WHO WOULD BE KINGS:
Rafael “Ralphie” Calderon 10
Po 3
Draws 2

THANK YOU TO:
All for participating and assisting me in creating great video for my project
The parents for granting me precious moments with your sons and yourselves
The referee for the Young Lions – Christian Estevez
The referee for the Men Who Would be Kings – Farai Mandizha
Eric Arock and Eric Shachter for film work extraordinaire and film equipment
Brad “The Bradinator” Ivey for finding them both.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT:
Starbucks Coffee Shop, Astor Place, NYC
Daaim Shabazz- financial, gifts and an awesome media forum
Chess in the Schools-3 beautiful tropies
Shaun Smith- orchestrated donations, assisted in location searches
Joe Connor-advertising assistance in the Harlem area
All who attended, even though it was raining
Starbucks patrons-riveted to the matches, proving my point that Blitz Chess is exciting

Shaala L. James (AKA Shaala L. Hill)

I’d like to also give thanks to all those who support this event. It’s important to have these events to build excitement. It’s wonderful that we have two fine young players in the community.

While Josh won the match, we must understand the importance of succeeding in slower time controls as well. Both will need to become more stable now that they are solidly at Expert level. This is where points are hard to get. Ray Robson recommends playing up a level, but perhaps that will take time.

One the most important ways to improve in chess is to have a training partner and someone to analyze with. These two will be helping each other a lot in the future!

I would like to thank the Chessdrum for coming up with the idea of this match and Ms. Shaala Hill for her time and effort. Here’s how it unfolded. First of all, Justus is a fierce competitor! At the beginning , I was a bit nervous and I lost the first two rounds, but it allowed me to study his style. After the third round, I felt relaxed and was able to play good chess until the match was over. Justus took the loss graciously and that was the most important thing to me. I am willing and looking forward to giving him a rematch in the future. I want to also thank Christian Estevez and all the people who came out to spport us.

Congrats to both of you and the organizers and supporters. To the parents, please keep the Drum informed of Josh’s and Justus’s future events!

Hey Everyone!
FIRST of all I would like to thank everyone who showed up to the chess dual blitz match on Saturday.

As for the details of the match between Po and I needless to say it was sort of one sided; kind of like a massacre.
The Old Guard vs The New Guard.
Experience vs Youth.

I would like to conclude by giving a special thanks and hug to Shaala, the queen of all queens for making everything possible.

WONDERFUL, i am always excited by young guns who come out play and make a name for themselves in the chess world shame that the national media does not look upon this as a way to encourage more young brothers and sisters. too have them see there are ways to overcome not just gang violence but, adversity as well, as many of our streets have. CONGRATS TO THE YOUNG GUNS AND YES THE OLD GUNS AS WELL AND A DOUBLE CONGRATS TO THE FINE PARENTS OF THESE YOUNG MEN you have done a great job all who support them congratulations

Daaim,

Josh Colas played fantastic chess this weekend in The National Youth Action, in Oakbrook, IL. He took clear first in the K-12 Blitz (9/10). He also tied for first in the (k-9) section. He got a chance to meet Isaah Gadson and his parents, cool people. Josh is looking forward to doing great things down in Dallas in two weeks.

PS. We haven’t had the chance to pick up your Gift (pen) yet, but Josh wanted to thank you for it.