Is James Black the 2nd Stephen Muhammad?
There are times when you notice the style of a player and then see similarities with another player. For the past few years, I have been covering James Black, Jr. and he reminds me of another player… in temperament, style of play and even some of his personality traits.
There are always caveats when comparing two players, but after some consideration, young James appears to be a younger version of IM Stephen Muhammad. Of course, Black has been able to accomplish many things in such a short time whereas Muhammad played in an era where strong tournaments and norms opportunities were very scarce. Muhammad’s peak USCF rating was 2468.
Here are some basic similarities besides their lanky frames… 🙂
- Both are tremendous blitz players (Muhammad once had a 3000+ blitz rating on the ICC);
- Both prefer 1.d4 with a positional mindset, but sharp tactically;
- Both have similar board demeanors;
- Both are generally confident against all opposition;
- Both like to joke (although Muhammad has stoic side);
- Both have the propensity to work hard at chess.
Muhammad has not played competitively in six years, but during his successful pursuit for the International Master title from 2001 to 2003, he set a standard of play that made him successful against very strong players. His style was more positional as he employed the London System with white and King’s Indian with black.
The key to Muhammad’s game was his slow buildup, but his sharp eye for tactics meant that you had to be very alert. Muhammad last played in 2007. He earned his 3rd IM norm at the 2003 U.S. Championship capping off his run of strong results. That evening he and GM Maurice Ashley engaged in a bruising blitz battle of 28 games… played to a 14-14 tie. An amazing battle!
Here are a few examples of Muhammad’s play:
James was featured in the documentary “Brooklyn Castle“. In “Brooklyn Castle,” Elizabeth Spiegel stated that young James “sees everything” and has shown some flashes by upsetting a number of strong players, including Grandmasters. Here is a show of Black’s blitz prowess against GM Gregory Kaidanov. The video was taken by Spiegel.
James’ speed and lightning reflexes are also something Muhammad was famous for.
Certainly, if it is within James’ desire, he can certainly vie for the IM title at a young age. Players like Ashley and Muhammad paid their dues in Open Swiss tournaments and had to scrape by with a small selection of tournaments in the U.S. for norms. The young stars now have so many more opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. It would be good to see the veteran Masters of the Black community (even if retired) provide mentorship for the up-and-coming scholastic stars. The idea of seeing someone similar to you can make a difference in your confidence and ability to envision success.
GM Maurice Ashley and IM Stephen Muhammad conversing after having successfully completed the 2003 U.S. Chess Championship. Copyright © 2003, Daaim Shabazz.
Good Job with this one Daaim.
Daaim, you’re doing a great job keeping this new generation of talents inspired. Nice article on a carefree Kid!
A tournament made up of GM Ashley, IM Muhammed, IM Tate, NM Morrison, NM Steven Golden, IM Adu,IM Farai, NM Norman Rogers, NM James Black Jr.NM Justus Williams, NM Josh Colas, and NM Jehron Bryant would be a classic. It would be interesting to see how experience v youth turns out.
Hello Guy, Are you suggesting a tournament as mentioned in Daaim’s last remarks,”If you are speaking of having a tournament just for prosperity (without norms) then that is another matter”? If so, it would be very interesting as well as historical. I wonder if any sponsors are available!!
Cleveland,
I was thinking of it in terms of both, but had no idea how much was involved until I read Daaim’s remark. I guess money is not everything, but almost everything comes down to money. If I hit Lotto, I will make sure it happens 🙂
This a great platform where all of the titled players mentioned above can jot down a word or two occasionally, like when the kids accomplish something good, to help inspire and motivate them. It helps when they get it from someone all the way from Jamaica, like Ian Wilkinson, but it would do much good to get support from those here at home that knows what it takes to get to those titles. Daaim has and continues to do all he can, but he and the other supporters are not enough.
Dr. Shabazz,
Even as old as this article is, it still touches my heart to read it!
First off, it is very well-written. secondly, it is an honorable salute to so many of our African-American and other minorities talent, ambition, and priceless contributions to chess that would not even be mentioned or recognized anywhere else!
I read this article, not only because it is motivational, but one is I have just started back competing in chess tournaments myself, in pursuit to beat many odds against me(age, limited time for study, work and general life responsibilities).
The other reason is I truly miss a great player who made a great impression on me coming up as a youngster playing in my first chess tournament back in the late 80’s in Alabama. And that is none other than the “great” Stephen Muhammad!
He is truly missed in competitive chess!
I am from the “old school” and graduated from Murphy High School, and attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
So, I grew up with awesome players like the very strong and extremely bright Expert Derek Womble, Sulaiman Smith, Ioyobebe Hanson, Emory Tate, Mumtaz Yusef, Kazim Gulamali, Daniel I. Miller, Raymond Williams, Brent Inman, Stuart Rachels, Tom Denton, Gerald Squires, Andrew Whatley, Bill Melvin, Joseph Jurjevich.
I was fascinated with chess, but lacked proper training and learning of the game. so this cause me to peak at high 1600s and never advance from there. Many of my “majority race” friends and colleagues had parents who could afford GM trainers for $40 – 50″ per hour and vhs tapes and informant books, and to travel to compete in tournaments with flight costs, lodging costs, entree fee costs, etc.
I grew up in a single-mother environment and my mother could not afford for me to travel and compete in “high stakes” tournaments like The World Open, New York Open, etc. So, while many of my “majority” friends went to the World Open and New York Open, I could only wait for the results to be published in Chess Life(and Review) and read up on it.
However, when I saw Stephen Muhammad(Stephen Booth at the time), I was so amazed and extremly impressed with this “Brotha” who looks like me, and is successful in the upper echelons of US players(at that time) like Seirawan, Gulko, the two Ivanovs, Gurevich, Yermolinsky, Christiansen, Kudrin, De Firmian, Tal Shaked, Robert Seltzer, Patrick Wolf etc) who did not look like me!
So Stephen was my hope that Blacks can compete at this level regardless of the many social and economic obstacles and challenges they face.
I after becoming and adult and an IT Professional, I was finally able to travel and compete in various tournaments, but still will inconsistent results due to work, divorce, personal issues, etc. So, I would compete for a short while, start to improve and then have to give up chess for a few years and not compete at all due to the above mentioned, etc over the years. I relocated to Atlanta in 2000, lived there until end of 2013, took a high profile position as CTO(Chief Technology Officer) for a company in Bermuda and relocated there; eventually could not see eye to eye with the CEO, whom was an undercover racist, and decided to leave Bermuda and took a position in Miami, FL, where I currently reside. Now I am 43 years old and that is considered “old” in chess years(like Basketball). But I am currently finally on the right chess regimen and hope to finally get to my desire level and accomplishments as a competitor.
We have so many talented and very strong “minority” players(both past and present) that have produce “masterpieces” over top masters that never got recognized, with the exception of “The Chess Drum”.
You may not remember me, but I met you on several occasions at various tournaments.
I could only afford to go to these big tournaments after I was good and grown and became a Computer Network Engineer”.
In closing, I just want to say “Thank You” for all the work you do to highlight and recognize the many “minority” players who would normally not get any recognition at all.
In closing, I want to share with you that I teach an absolutely free Information Technology Boot Camp.
I have successfully placed over 97+ students in IT jobs whom never had any former training or experience in IT! Many of them making $45 – 60 per hour after being placed upon completion of my Boot Camp!
It is open to anyone wanting to obtain a lucrative skill and cannot afford school or schedules do no accommodate a university.
My website is https://www.tacdbootcamp.com
The Boot Camp is only 4 months in length and I train in the following:
* Active Directory
* Cisco Routing & Switching
* Citrix
* VMWare
* SharePoint/SQL Server/Lync Server
* Linux/UNIX
* Desktop PC Support
Thanks for your great contributions Dr. Shabazz!
GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER!
Richard Pugh, III,MCSE,MCITP,CCNA,CCNP,A+,CCA,CCSA,S+,N+
“The Atlanta Computerdude”
thanks for creating the website.
it’s good to find news and information
about black chess players.
Yes dt. agreed great site, wonderful job Daaim Um sure our ancestors feel them drums!!!