Justus Williams (pictured), 12, is bypassing the usual routes to success -- like the basketball court or football field -- for a young black kid from the city.
Instead, the Bronx boy is skillfully using the chess board to win national plaudits and has become the highest-rated chess player for his age and gender in the country.
Williams, who learned the game just four years ago, is on pace to reach the rank of chess master and would become the first black 12-year-old to ever reach that status, said his mother, Latisha Ballard, who can scarcely contain her joy when speaking about her son's exploits.
"He really works hard at perfecting his game," Ballard said. "And if something goes wrong, he's not the type of person who looks for excuses. He just works harder."
If that's the case, the competitors who will face Justus in October's World Youth Chess Championship in Halkidiki, Greece, are in for a tough time.
Justus showed a natural ability to think steps ahead of the competition and rocketed to the top of his school's chess class - in just the 4th grade.
Justus and his mom just returned from Justus' first international chess tournament, the Pan-American Youth Chess Festival, in Brazil. And while his 10th-place finish in his group of 60 players would be considered respectable for most, it fell far short of what Justus expected to achieve:
"It was a little disappointing. I was the only player from the United States in my section, so I didn't get any help," Justus said.
Ballard added that Justus didn't have a translator, so grasping the rules and regulations for the tournament proved difficult.
"He was at such a disadvantage. I was upset, but he said, 'Don't worry, mom, because the world championship is coming and I'll be ready for that,'" Ballard said.
Brazil was a rare bump on the chess board for Justus, who learned to play the game at his mother's urging through a program called Chess-in-the-Schools at P.S. 70 in the Bronx.
Justus now attends school in Brooklyn, which is 90 minutes from his home. The commute ensures a busy daily routine for the boy, since it includes homework, chess practice and taekwondo lessons.
With his hectic schedule and desire to improve, Justus believes the sky is the limit:
"People should expect very hard games against me now that I have some international experience. I'll do better in Greece."
My guess is that it isn't just Greece that should watch out for this tween. Justus' mom should be commended for going to great lengths to both stimulate and nurture her child. If all parents could be so diligent, this world would be a much better place. Good luck in October, Justus! We are definitely rooting for you here at AOL.
Watch Justus and other talented young chess players here:
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