Meet Diamond Shakoor from Columbus, Ohio, who in 2009 at age 8 printed her name in the sands of time when she became the youngest African-American female to go undefeated in a National Chess competition.
She has gone on to have played in more than 250 tournaments winning 7 national champion
Shakoor learned the game of Chess at the Urban Kings & Queens Chess Academy, and her goal is to become the first and youngest African American female chess grandmaster.
She said: “I love to play chess, it’s like life basically. It’s like a battle. Half of it is a natural talent, but I’m starting to study now. Chess means everything to me. It’s changed my whole life for the positive.”
Diamond’s Dad, Abdul Shakoor who teaches courses on chess has been Diamond’s teacher since she was 7 years and confessed that Diamond is capable of winning him in the game.
He comments, “When she’s focused, it’s incredibly tough to beat her.”
In 2012, the two moved from Ohio to St. Louis’ to take advantage of the city’s “burgeoning chess scene.”
Abdul Shakoor often compares his daughter to a young Serena Williams or even a female Tiger Woods and have a feeling that she is going to be a female world champion.
Diamond is also determined to improve so she can become a world champion someday.
