Chess master moves on to Sheppard Published June 29, 2011 By Lisa Campbell CSC marketing director KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- "Checkmate" has become a familiar phrase for James Canty III, a recent graduate of the 336th Training Squadron. At the ripe age of 8, Canty picked up his first chessboard and his father taught him how to play the game. Intrigued by the challenge, he spent countless hours playing chess against his friends and other online opponents. One day when playing against his dad, Canty beat him and at that point he says, "It took it to a whole new level for me." His drive to be the best landed him on chess teams throughout grade school and high school. Canty has played more than 6,000 games, placed in every tournament he entered and won first place in 36 tournaments. Of the 1,297 chess players that are ranked in Michigan, he is ranked sixth. In 2006 he was named an Expert player, two years later he became a National Master. At Keesler, Canty was no stranger to the game, often playing chess among his fellow nonprior service students at the Vandenberg Community Center. Known for his speed and skill, he has the ability to see 25 moves ahead of his opponent and is able to play multiple games simultaneously. June 9, Airman Canty took on 12 opponents in about 26 games at the Vandenberg, winning them all. Ambitious to continue his education and play chess, Canty joined the Air Force, which he considers "the best decision in my life." He plans to play in an upcoming chess tournament at his new duty station, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and hopes to go on from there to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization team. Overall, his goal is to become an International Master, then Grand Master -- a title that less than 1 percent of chess players worldwide can claim.