Justin Storn is a young man of many talents. An 11th grader at Turpin High School, he has earned more awards, accolades and championships than most of us do in a lifetime. Justin is a chess champion and has reached a competitive level that many only dream of and he is only 17. But chess is only part of his story.

Competition

There is a saying in sports, “to be the best, you have to beat the best.” Justin has done just that by winning the Cincinnati Chess Tournament . . . twice! The first time he won that particular tournament, he became the youngest ever to do so by besting other accomplished players of all ages. When he turned his attention to competitions in his own grade level, he won the state championship in grades 7, 9 and 10. At the national level he earned a 6th place finish for all the 10th grade competitors in the country. Not too shabby!

All in the family

Justin’s grandfather first introduced him to the game when he was only 8 or 9 years old, but he did not really start to focus on it until several years later when his dad began to play with him. “We started to compete in tournaments together and my dad was pretty good,” says Justin. “But after a while, I passed him in ratings.” Justin has a rating of 2250, making him a master chess player. To put that in perspective, 2400 is an international master rating and 2800 is the best in the world! Did I mention that he is 17?

It’s not just about chess

No doubt that chess is an important part of Justin’s life. He is sharing his skills by tutoring others and has even started a chess team at his school. And besides the world of chess, Justin applies his leadership skills in other areas of life. One way he does this is by volunteering at Crossroads Church in the Special Needs Ministry. He has a special place in his heart for special needs kids (he was one as a baby). Recently on a mission trip to Belize with his mom, he helped to build houses for a family with two special needs kids. One young boy in particular was very fond of Justin and constantly greeted him with a thumbs-up followed by a smile and saying “Happy?!”  Just picturing that interchange, how could you not be?

Justin’s accomplishments are impressive, and while chess is important to him, he looks at life from a much bigger perspective. His life experiences have given him a truly unique view of the world and his role in it. In spite of the notoriety, he remains humble and lives with gratitude for the things he has and the things he has accomplished.

Just for fun:

Q: How has chess changed you?
A: It has changed my thought process in everything. Especially how I make decisions and approach problem solving.

Q: Is it stressful to compete?
A: You definitely have to learn how to play under pressure and maintain your composure. Most of chess is about your ability to focus – it’s not just about the moves. For example, when you are winning, you need to take a deep breath and not hurry your moves. I have seen good players lose under pressure if they do not have the right mindset.

Q: You seem to embrace chess in a fun way!
A: I have fun with it. It’s not just about competing but also about sharing the sport with others in a fun way.

Q: How so?
A: For example, I started a chess team at Turpin. Recently, we had an assembly pep rally where I played against the principal. I beat him in 9 moves, blindfolded.

Q: What is your favorite thing about chess?
A: I enjoy coaching (mostly on-line) with people all over the world. I also love that I get to travel for chess. On a recent trip to NYC, I was fortunate to play in Washington Square Park! On that same trip we visited Marshall Chess Club which is the oldest chess club in the world, and I played there as well. It was quite a privilege.

Q: What career will you pursue?
A: I think either Biomedical Engineering or something in the financial arena.

Q: What is one takeaway from your mission trip to Belize?
A: Definitely that we are fortunate. It’s not so bad here – we have everything we need in life. But the people of Belize are happier than we are because they live in the moment.

Q: How would those close to you describe you?
A: I am really shy when I am with someone I don’t know, but when I get to know you, you will see that I am very kind and genuine.

Q: Tell me some of your favorite things about our city.
A: Skyline, the Reds & Bengals

Q: Can you identify a turning point in your life?
A: Yes. When my grandma Storn died. It was my first big experience with grief but through that grief I grew more determined to meet my goals because grandma would want it that way.

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Cincinnati?
A: LaRosa’s

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in your community?
A: My first chess coach, Robert Chenault, lives in California now. He is very passionate about chess and he ingrained that passion in me, not only for chess but also for life.

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Be grateful for what you have now.

Q: What is your favorite music?
A: Bastille / Imagine Dragons / Coldplay / AJR

Q: What person, alive or passed would you like to have lunch with?  Why?
A: Martin Luther King because of his stubbornness, strength and perseverance. I’d like to understand his thinking about non-violent protests and his ability to love the people who were hating him.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: Stay involved with chess but continue to create my own career

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: I really love football, especially how you can build strategies and around strengths and weaknesses of different players and situations.

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Community, Love, Cincinnati

Q: What do you do for you?
A: Shoot basketball or workout – sometimes video games.

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances . . . Thomas Jefferson