News

8-year-old African-American girl emerges winner of US chess competition, sets outstanding record

An exceptional 8-year-old girl named Diamond Shakoor has set an outstanding record by becoming the youngest African-American female to go undefeated in a Chess National competition in the United States.

Diamond, from Columbus, Ohio became the youngest African-American female to go undefeated in the United States Chess Federation competition (USCF) that took place in Florida in 2009.

Diamond’s father, Abdul Shakoor was an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer, who taught chess to 150 children when Diamond approached him with an interest in the sport. She was then taught by her father and she entered her first tournament in April 2008.

In the tournament, she achieved 42nd place out of 97 participants. In her second tournament, the Ohio All Girls Championship, Diamond secured 4th place throughout the state for the K-2nd grade age group.

Following that, Diamond participated in the Ohio Grade Level State Championships and earned the 2nd place position among 2nd graders in the state. From there she went to the USCF National competition in Florida, where she earned her first national title.

Diamond said she likes playing chess because it is a strategy game, one that you can get better at the more you try and it gives you the chance to travel around the world. “I love to play chess, it’s like life basically. It’s like a battle. Half of it is natural talent, but I’m starting to study now,” she said.

Abdul said he believes that chess helps children perform better academically, increases self-esteem, and improves critical thinking skills. In agreement with this and encouraged by Diamond’s success, Lou Seipel, Director of Supportive Services at CPO, worked with Abdul to get Diamond to Florida for the competition.

Abdul added that Diamond can now consistently beat him.  “When she’s focused, it’s incredibly tough to beat her. I have a feeling she is going to be a female world champion,” he said.

Ever since then, Diamond has earned seven trophies and fifteen medals for her skills in chess. She was also officially recognized by the Columbus City School Board of Education for her outstanding chess skill.

Related Posts

Net zero is no longer mere policy. It has mutated into a religious cult, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is its High Priest.

Net zero is no longer mere policy. It has mutated into a religious cult, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is its High Priest. All of us are being forced to bow down at its altar, obedient to the cosmic law of decarbonisation. And as a report by the National Energy System Operator [NESO] confirmed yesterday, a huge price will be extracted to enforce our obedience. That price is likely to include swingeing financial penalties for ordinary households that dare to consume electricity at peak times. Heating your home, running a dishwasher or washing machine, watching TV or simply boiling a kettle will become far more expensive.

A council worker who protested against the use of woke pronouns has been hit with a £12,000 legal bill.

A council worker who protested against the use of woke pronouns has been hit with a £12,000 legal bill. Jim Orwin lost his job when he refused to use ‘acceptable’ pronouns such as he/him and instead used the words ‘XYchromosomeGuy/AdultHumanMale’ to the end of his emails. The ICT project officer was suspended and eventually sacked by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in 2022 when he refused to change the sign-off.

Yobs up and down the country have clashed with riot police and hurled fireworks at emergency service workers, amid a sharp rise in Bonfire Night troubles.

Yobs up and down the country have clashed with riot police and hurled fireworks at emergency service workers, amid a sharp rise in Bonfire Night troubles. In Manchester, cops police were pelted with fireworks by a huge group of youths in the street. A large mob of between 20 to 30 teenagers are understood to have built a ‘barricade’ on Vine Street, in Gorton, with wooden pallets and mattresses.

Joe Biden will not attend Kamala Harris’ election night watch party, after being largely shut out of her campaign since she took the top of the ticket.

Joe Biden will not attend Kamala Harris’ election night watch party, after being largely shut out of her campaign since she took the top of the ticket. The president and his wife Jill Biden, will instead watch the votes roll in from home. ‘Tonight, the president and First Lady will watch election results in the White House residence with longtime aides and senior White House staff,’ a White House official revealed.

Boris Johnson has said he would happily leave his daughter alone with Donald Trump, as he backs the ex-President in a Channel 4 election special.

Boris Johnson has said he would happily leave his daughter alone with Donald Trump, as he backs the ex-President in a Channel 4 election special. The former UK PM and Mail columnist clashed with fellow panellist and ex-adult film star Stormy Daniels when she pushed him on whether he would feel comfortable leaving his children alone with the Republican candidate. ‘My experience of Donald Trump is that when I’ve known him… I hear what you say and maybe I’m wrong but he has been courteous, he has been polite,’ Johnson said, before being cut off by Emily Maitlis.

Donald Trump has won the first pivotal swing state in the race for the White House leaving Kamala Harris supporters increasingly fearful she will lose the presidential election.

Donald Trump has won the first pivotal swing state in the race for the White House leaving Kamala Harris supporters increasingly fearful she will lose the presidential election. Trump has soared to an all-time high in the betting markets with his chances of reaching the required 270 Electoral College votes passing 90 per cent. The former president’s surge has prompted ‘silence’ among Team Harris as hopes rest on pulling off victories in a number of close contests. The former president has picked up victories in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama , Oklahoma, Florida , South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *