Justus-Josh battle at IS-318!

Justus wins the match 3-1. The games were all exciting, but of course these games will be dissected and analyzed in coming weeks. The last game has some interesting possibilities such as 20.Be4 weakening black’s kingside with 20…h6 (20…g6 21.Bxg6!). It looks as if white has no better than a repetition of moves after 29.Qd5 Bf7. Justus clearly wasn’t going to play 29…Kh8 30.Nxf6!? with complications.

I’d like to congratulate both boys for a job well done. It was good to see that the two did not let the pressure take them to a place that lacked sportsmanship and respect. Each remained true to the game, their nurturing and who they will become as men. I am proud of Justus because he worked hard, is very talented through it all he continued to show concern for his opponent.

Daaim,

You can get photos from Polly’s Blog at castlingqueenside.blogspot.com

or from the USCF On-line article I wrote earlier.

I was really impressed with the level of play and the way they both handled each themselves. I’m sure we’ll see more great games between these two.

I hope we’ll be able to have rematch in the future up in White Plains at Joshua’s school.

Thanks Shaun for organizing the match and the tournament.

Shaun,
If it was up to Josh, he would want a rematch ASAP because he just loves to play chess. However, I think the purpose of a match is to find out certain things about your opponent. Having said that, the next match cannot be done right away. Of course, this time around, we will ask for certain perameters to be determined before the match.

I’m very proud of both of these talented players. I have not met Justus yet, but both he and Josh have a bright future and I will do everything possible to help in their development.

Well I think that before we go to scheduling dates, we might want to see if the champ and his family want a match. Because let us see if I got this right. The two boys had a blitz match, of which Joshua won, then for what ever reason the Colas family demanded a chess match, ( or rematch) and had every opportunity to agree or disagree with the particulars of said match. Then the chess match took place and Justus won. However. inlike prior to the second match when it was constantly said “let’s encourage the boys to just have fun and place the best that they can and continue being friends, all I have heard is excuses that noone has asked for and insults. Justus will not be made to feel other than like to champion he is. So, before we get completely out of line I suggest we change the flow of how this is going. Joshua lost the rematch that he and his family insisted on having. When Justus lost the Blitz match we did not cry instead we congratulated Joshua

Hello Daaim, I agree with you that “Nanna” was very harsh. That’s grandmothers for you – she is very protective. I will apologize if anyone feels insulted. Since the beginning there were always people opposing the match because they predicted issues such as this arising from such an event; there are a few posts on the USCF website as well where someone did comment on the impact on whether or not the match/rematch is what the boys want or if it is instead what the parents want. Comments have been made regarding justus being allowed to play with white first, and the fact that it was in 318, also remarks have been made about justus being “prepared” for the match, etc which to me can be viewed as insulting because yes Justus was prepared well as he should have been (he studies very hard) and as both boys should have been prior to the match. Justus does not mind at all having a rematch with Josh, he enjoyed the event immensely and loves the game;however, i think we should give other talented kids an opportunity to play strong players as well. James Black is an excellent player and 6th grade national Champion with alot of promise and wants greatly to be given a chance to play a serious match with Joshua which i think is fine and would support. My mother is accurate when she refers to Justus as being a “champ” because to my family he is nothing less and has been this to us and others prior to this event. Joshua is a champ in his own right as well so the term should not be viewed negatively. Again, I agree my mother was harsh and we apologize; just understand that her comment stems from the comments posted previously which can be translated as reducing/denying the fact that Justus won the match and both boys played undeniably well. Anyone who watched the games agreed both Justus and Joshua played extremely high level chess and did so very well. On that note I say we should just continue to be proud and supportive of all of our talented young Champs and work together to see to it they progress and go far!!

Latisha,

I think this is a good experiment, but I do believe now that the two players can help each other with analysis without the spotlight. They are now bound together forever and will talk about this when they get older.

When I was a junior player, I played a match against another junior player. There was a lot of trash-talking before he challenged me. At the time, our ratings were about the same, but I was clearly stronger. We played two games each Saturday during club hours at the Tuley Park in Chicago. I won the first two games rather handily. Then I relaxed and lost two in a row on horrible blunders (including dropping a rook in a winning position). Then there was a draw where I almost lost.

The match was getting interesting and his confidence was high. The fifth game I lost disastrously from an over-aggressive opening with black. I was now down a game! Everyone was shocked. We played in a scholastic tournament at University of Chicago and he was going around telling people he was a game up, but no one believed him. In that tournament, I won a 1st place in a quad and got some confidence back. I then went back and studied hard and won the next three games in a row. It was a good lesson for me and made me a better player. After that, my rating soared.

Granted Justus and Josh are receiving a lot of publicity for this match. When they become Masters within a year, they will receive more publicity. They will also encourage each other. We have not had this amount of young talent in the Black community in 20-25 years. You’ve got a lot of talent in New York and in other cities and soon we will see them competing at Master level. The competition between these boys is healthy, but adults have to be careful not to make this a rivalry.

I agree with Daaim. To me it seems that both Justus and Joshua really love chess and just love to play the game. Joshua won the first match and Justus won the second. Who knows who would win if they played again? They are so closely matched… it is tough to call. It is exciting to watch the two boys as they become Chess-Masters…they are both Champions.

Guy is correct. I did ask to see both talented players match up in a longer time control. Since Joshua won the Blitz match, I thought it would be exciting to see how the two would fair in G/60 and a rematch might create excitement for the two players.

Both players are great and I know they will both break 2200 soon.

If both players still want to play I will help in anyway I can.

I believe chess players will understand that this is not a big deal. Chess players play chess, free and clear. We can play casual blitz all day and not be concerned with these issues. In chess, there is always another day.

The “Black Bear School of Chess” in Brooklyn was a legendary system where chess players got together and studied and played 30-game matches to rise in the ranks. GM Maurice Ashley, FM William Morrison, FM Ronald Simpson and NM Ernest Colding come from that tradition and they are as friendly as they’ve ever been. These methods only strengthened the players.

Sometimes parents and/or adults bring in elements that are not part of the chess spirit. I’ve heard of some ridiculous incidents concerning adults at children’s sporting events. Fortunately, both Josh and Justus have parents who are supportive and will no doubt like to see both boys be successful in chess and in life.

I’m not sure why ADULTS are nitpicking over comments and trying to find something out of nothing. We waste our energy on small points instead of focusing on how the two boys can work together, get the resources they need and make progress. There is no need to go back over “who-said-what” and analyze why the comments were made. It has already been explained. Let’s move on and find a way for our youth to fulfill their chess dreams. It is my hope that Justus and Josh can develop a partnership… free of suspicion. Please do not spread gossip to either Josh or Justus and ruin their spirit and love for the game. Focus on this picture.

Future Masters!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JUSTUS AND JOSHUA!
MY JUSTY BOY, I’m soo extremely proud of you for winning this game and all of your accomplishments! Being the talented, skilled, dedicated and HUMBLE young man that you are…you will without a doubt continue to SOAR papa! God will surely continue to bless you abundantly in all that you do! The sky is the limit and don’t let anyone else’s words/thoughts persuade you to think anything less. Keep it up sweetie. Love, Auntie. Muah!

Julius,

There is nothing to stop Justus and Josh from playing informal matches. They can continue to do that without publicity. Chess players do it all the time in parks, schools, clubs… without adult intervention or supervision. I just hope they’re not tainted by conspiracy theories and rumours. I understand there are some bad things being said about the Colas family and I believe it is unfair.

I’m disappointed by some of the sniping going between some of the adults. I traveled down to Brooklyn on both days with Joshua and his family. On the car ride back after the first day Joshua seemed very satisfied with how things went.

Coming down on the next day we did discuss the pros and cons of having White or Black in the third game. My description of of the second day can be found at https://castlingqueenside.blogspot.com/2010/02/big-battle-in-brooklyn-day-2.html

I think Nanna’s remarks were a little harsh. Knowing the Colas family as well as I do I feel the Guy was sincere in his congratulations, and was not making excuses for why Josh lost.

To Irma, I don’t know if you’re a chess player or not. If you talk to any player who has competed matches or any tournament there are many psychological things that come into play. It works both ways. There’s the pressure of trying to pull out the must win game to bring one back from the brink of defeat. One can’t sit back and play for draw, so chances are taken.

On the other hand there is the pressure of holding the lead by wining or drawing the last game. A last round loss ties the match, and then it comes down to a blitz match as tie-breaker. That can be nerve wracking when you know that your opponent is an exceptional blitz player and beat you pretty handily the blitz match.

Let’s us remind ourselves these are two 11 year children who have many years ahead of them to gain the experience and maturity to handle the pressure of playing for championships. Let’s not make this out to be the championship to decide which one of these young men might make it master first. Matches are an excellent training tool, and it had some extra incentive too it by Mon Roi’s donation of the PCM to the winner.

Justus came out on top this time. Perhaps in a rematch the opposite may be true, or maybe Justus will win again. I don’t it necessarily proves Justus is better then Josh. There will be more games against one another in tournaments. I’m sure at a National Scholastic Championship we will see these two on board one duking it out to see who will become National Champion of their section.

As both them discovered in Dallas, being number 1 & 2 on the wall chart doesn’t guarantee the anticipated match up for National Champion. There are bumps in the road on the route to National Champion. I’ve seen it time and time again where the the heavy favorite gets knocked off in an early round. Will matches such as these benefit the players in their quest to make master or National Champion? I don’t know the answer.

What I do know is that taking pot shots at the parents and misinterpreting what was said or written hurts the kids. Let’s remember Josh and Justus spent the weekend together before the match playing as teammates at the USATE. Bitter rivals don’t team up for an event like that. Friends get together and form teams for the camaraderie and good times that are had at that event. Let’s not ruin a friendship these boys have over matches that don’t prove much except that one match Josh had outstanding success over Justus, and the next match Justus had outstanding success over Josh.

5 to 10 years down the road this match will be just one little blip in what they both accomplish as they pursue there chess dreams. Hopefully they will be able to look back on it as a good experience.

All of this being said, I would be happy to work with Shaun to set up a rematch in White Plains at Josh’s school or some other in White Plains. Let Josh have White in games 1 & 3, and let’s just make it clear what happens in the event of a tie match. I have to admit Shaun and I were trying to figure out what we would have done in Josh had won the 4th game to tie the match.

Polly you are absolutely right! Joshua is an “exceptional blitz player” and he did “beat Justus pretty handily”. Unfortunately my comment on # 31 arrived prior to yours.

These boys will become inseparable.

I stumbled on “The Chess Drum” by accident, in fact, by doing a search for an internet marketer Shaun Smith and was redirected to The Chess Drum. I’m 63 and have played chess all my life and at all levels my best ranking position was 198 playing for my county in the UK. From this day forward, I will be following The Chess Drum with great interest.
Ben Shepard