Greenbriar Chess Champ Avoids Cockiness: Whiz Kid

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Frederick Moore Jr.

Whiz Kid's Age: 13

Whiz Kid's School: (Chicago Heights District 170)

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Frederick is an avid chess player who recently helped the District 170 chess team win first place in an Illinois Chess Coaches Association-sponsored tournament at in New Lenox.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: We asked Frederick a few questions about his experience with chess. Here's what he had to say.

On getting into chess: It all started when I was four or five. My auntie would always play chess with my mom, and I ended up getting interested, and I wanted to play. So I always would bug my auntie to show me how to play, and she ended up teaching me.

On getting better at chess: I would always lose [to my auntie] and it would be funny. I used to challenge her every time I saw her, and I ended up knowing her skills. So I would get better by losing. Then my mom told me about my dad, and how he used to compete at chess, and I would go against him. I'm still going against him at this very moment.

On his experience at the tournament: It was fun but a lot of people were cocky. To me, in chess you can be confident in your abilities but you can't be overly confident, because you don't know your opponent that well. He might have something up his sleeve and you might overlook that.

Want to see your Whiz Kid featured on our site? E-mail submissions to Christopher.Paicely@patch.com, or leave your nomination in the comments with name, age, school, accomplishment and key to awesomeness!