Dominique was just ten when some neighborhood gang members befriended him. “I was kind of a mascot,” as he puts it. But gang mascots eventually become gang members, and he was headed for trouble. One day, Dominique discovered an online chess game. He got the hang of it and became good—really good.  He didn’t like to lose, and pretty soon he had taught himself a variety of creative chess moves.

Before too long,  Dominique was “busy” when gang members called. Busy with chess. Busy with starting a chess club in his school. Then busy as chess club president. Then he added wrestling to the mix. Dominique was way too busy finding his purpose to run with gangs.

By the time he was in high school, Dominique had become the top scholastic chess player in the state of North Carolina. He even won a national tournament,  and is now in striking distance of becoming a Grand Master—an international distinction.  Dominique possesses a unique and God-given genius when it comes to chess.  Continue reading