By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
At age seven, most kids are hardly likely to have decided what they’ll like to do in their professional adult life. For those who have decided, a reasonable assumption is that they’d like to be a doctor, lawyer or professional athlete.
This, however, is not the case with Jayden Hylton, who turns eight in February, and who was involved in soccer a few years ago. He now wants to be a professional chess player.
Canadian-born of Jamaican parents, Natoya Anderson and Andrew Hylton, Jayden already is participating in tournaments, representing Jamaica. He recently returned with his parents from a competition in Virginia in the United States.
“He did very well. It was a good experience for him,” Anderson told Share in reporting on her son’s participation in the Virginia contest.
“He got second place in his rated category, and he also got a medal for top international player. He also played in a blitz competition, where you’re playing fast games, with older guys, who are rated like two or three times his ratings.
“He learned a lot from those games.”
Jayden started playing chess in February, after watching and learning from games played online on YouTube.
He turned to chess after his parents withdrew him from playing soccer.
“He was born pre-term and spent a lot of time in the hospital. In playing soccer, he was having pain in his chest,” Anderson said. “So, eventually, that sport was not working as well for him. Even though he loved soccer, it was causing too much pain. Chess tends to work in his best interest.”
Anderson has learned some of the skills of chess-playing from her son. It enables her, she said, to assist him and to “know whether or not he’s following the principles of chess”.
Jayden has several food allergies and is home-schooled by his mom, an immigration consultant.
“It gives me the opportunity to better monitor and manage his condition. It’s way better,” said Anderson. “You take more care of your child as it’s one-to-one, and not someone else in another setting.”
Jayden takes lessons with the Canadian Chess Institute in Toronto. He’s in an elite class of players, who are taught by Chess Grandmasters.
Anderson said that unlike in Jamaica, not too many Black people participate in chess in Canada. He’s often the only Black kid at Canadian competitions. “He sometimes feels a bit out,” Anderson said.
Chess is governed by FIDE—the International Chess Federation. FIDE has five levels of ranking players; the highest is Grandmaster.
Maurice Ashley, who was born in Jamaica and migrated to the United States as a youngster, was the first Black Grandmaster.
Jaden, who is at the first level of a FIDE titleholder, Arena Candidate Member, aspires to be a Grandmaster.
His first international tournament was in July in Orlando, where he won two gold medals and a silver. He also has successfully competed in El Salvador.
Last week, Jayden took part in a competition in Jamaica and came second in the under-eight age group category.
On November 13, he’s headed to Italy for an international tournament, the World Cadet Championships. FIDE is paying for accommodation and meals for Jayden and the more than 600 other participants.
With this tournament in Italy, like with other travel by Jayden, addetional expenses are paid for by his parents.
“It would be good if we can find a Black business to support the cause,” said Anderson.
