In the world of chess, few players rise to prominence as swiftly and compellingly as James Canty III. An American FIDE Master, streamer, and entrepreneur, he began mastering the game at the age of 8 and became a USCF Master by 17, showcasing an exceptional blend of talent and determination.
Canty has carved out a unique space in the chess community, particularly during the pandemic, where his engaging streaming style resonated with a new generation of players. As a coach, commentator, and content creator for Chess.com, he is paving his own way as a chess professional and influencer.
In this candid Q&A, Canty delves into the memories that shaped his journey, his coaching philosophy, and his ambitious vision for the future.
You started playing chess as a way to bond with your father. Can you share some of your favorite memories from those early games?
I liked the fact that my dad would never go easy on me and would crush me every game, which showed I had to work. When I finally beat him after two years of losing every game, it was a memory and feeling I will never forget.
Who are your favorite chess players?
Mikhail Tal, Rashid Nezhmetdinov, Alireza Firouzja, Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus Carlsen, and Garry Kasparov—these are my favorites, and my play style resembles theirs!
You’ve used social media effectively to garner a younger audience, did you ever see yourself being such a figure head in the chess community? And where do you see yourself and your brand in 5 to 10+ years
I actually never thought I would be where I am with my audience; it just kind of happened, and I was ready for it. It always feels like I am just chillin' with some friends playing chess, and it grew to something much more—like a family now. I am glad and grateful for my influence, though, inspiring others to be their best selves through hard work and consistency on a daily basis. In the next 5-10 years, I see myself as a strong Grandmaster, with a million subs on YouTube, hahahaha, a six-figure Chessable author, and the COE (Calculation Over Everything) brand being in every chess tournament, with branding and sponsorships of our own to others.
The quote "play the board, the board will tell you what to do" seems to resonate with you. How do you apply this mindset in both your own games and when coaching others?
This is a good mindset to have, but this also requires you to have some work done already so you know how to read what the board is telling you to do! Nevertheless, the board is always talking; you just need to be listening, and to be a great listener, you have to practice more—hence, working more on your chess. When coaching others, I generally use the approach, "Focus on the work over the results." This is very important and true. Focus more on the work rather than the results, and you will get the results you are looking for.
You’ve had several influential coaches throughout your career. Can you share a specific lesson or piece of advice from each that significantly impacted your game?
Yes, in fact, from the last question, that focus on the work over results came from him, lol. I worked with a Russian chess coach, and he was the best I ever worked with. Around the end of 2021, I worked with my coach, and he said to me, "Stop focusing on the results; you will never succeed in this way. Focus on the work and the process, and then you will get it." I never forgot this, and the very next month, I beat my first Grandmaster in a classical tournament with the black pieces in a King's Indian Defense, an aggressive opening.
What is one common mistake you see in players who are looking to improve, and how do you help them overcome it?
One common mistake I see in players looking to improve is not focusing on what their opponent wants to do and being more focused on what we want to do. Knowing your opponent's threats is even more important than knowing your own! I help them overcome it by repetition and by telling them that in our system of thinking, one question you have to ask every time you move is, "What are they doing?"
You mentioned a favorite game against IM Roberto Martin Del Campo. What specific aspects of that game make it stand out to you?
This was a favorite because I won with a very rare pawn sacrifice line in the c3 Sicilian, and I was very happy to employ it. The game was very aggressive and tactical—my nature and style—that ended in a very nasty queen sacrifice to checkmate in style.
What are your ambitions for the next few years, both as a player and as a coach? Are there any specific tournaments or projects you're excited about?
As a player, my ambitions are to play in more tournaments and cross the 2500 FIDE mark, then go from there, one step at a time. As a coach, I just want my students to see success in their lane, with whatever that might look like for them. So far, I have a 100% success rate in student improvement.
Tournament-wise, I have two in November, right before and through Thanksgiving, Nov 14-24 or something like that—two back-to-back strong tournaments—so I have been preparing and am eager to play. After this, I have some options in December to play, then I am chilling until February when I go play in London.
When you’re not playing or streaming, what hobbies or interests do you enjoy? How do they influence your approach to chess?
I love to work out; the mind and body are very important and complement each other. I also train like an athlete—just an athlete of the mind. My physical fitness helps my mental fitness. Other than that, I love to trade in the foreign exchange market; I trade what they call "futures." This is what I call my "Lamborghini Money," hahaha because that kind of money is not really in chess. I saw a friend of mine make $20k in 3 minutes and instantly knew I had to learn this. I lost a lot of money in the beginning, then learned patience, psychology, and skill, and now I am profitable for the first time in 4 years lol.
