Streamer Portrait - James Canty III (GMCanty) - Every day is friday

It's something beautiful about his approach. For me he's one of the absolute best streamers out there. And no, it's not a competition. It's a fact. Real. It's happening right now! He's doing it and it's friday every day.

Every single day.

His handle suggest he's a GM but that's not the case. The "GM" in his handle is a goal ... and journey. The really cool thing about it is that I'm following it, I'm taking part in the saga. I'm a character in his book and all of you following him, you're also taking part, taking advantage from the knowledge he has, learning from him analysing your game - after you lost. I urge you all to pay him a visit, give him some time to grow on you - participate in the chat and with an open heart - I think you will tune in too his channel more than once.

Join the Jedi Order. Feel the force. We're in here. 

I had a long talk with him, you know, just talking (I talk alot), taking no notes, just to get a feel. He's in balance, very at ease and after just some frases I knew I liked him. Knowing nothing about him. Okay, some basic facts:

• He's a dad since about a year. They got a son. His woman standing by him. He by her. A family and nothing beats that! Not even a gambit.
• He will become a GM. It's out there now! No pressure Canty. No pressure.
• It's a bullet list this one.
• In his spare time besides streaming, cooking?, being a parent - you all know life; there is always something going on even when nothing is happening - E4!
• His dad taught him the game of chess and never let him get a win. He had to earn it. I guess he's teaching his dad a thing or two by now. I also guess that Canty's son will get the same treatment.

I know for a fact that after a day full of everything, he studies chess, I think this young man eats chess, live chess, it's a lot of chess. I call such; passion. And he does it with a smile, a big heart and he wants to share. But then again, he surely keeps some secrets to himself, and he should, keeping some hidden. The secret weapons. 

I played some games with him and I was stunned, broken, angry and without hope afterwards. He crushed me like a fly. After a while I laughed at the whole thing - he should destroy me because he's a much stronger player than I am. I'll keep coming back for that slap in the face, I'll revisit his streams over and over again with a yearning, that one day - one day! - I'll reach an endgame but it wouldn't surprise me if his stupid king is a stubborn bastard who won't move ... and I can't get to him because of a massive blockade on all ranks. Dreaming of pinning any piece, taking it and suddenly - checkmate! But that's my dream. And I'll keep it. 

I'll just click 'Resign'.

The best thing with his presence on my screen is that I learn something every stream! So I subscribe to his channel and sometimes he give me some hints afterwards, talking about our game and I for one - is forever grateful. And he has a lot of followers and subscribers. His channel has grown very fast because of the content and because of the character he channels. I will keep on supporting him. There's no question about it. I wish him all the best from the deepest place I know; the dark side (with a smile).

Who knows, lifes change, mostly because everything intervene with something - at any time - but as long the chess community does what it does best - connecting people - I feel safe. I feel secure when following Canty's cast, of course he doesn't know it all (no one does) but to me, being at the level I'm at - he sure knows alot more about chess than I do. And he interacts with the chat in a way that I'm dazzled that he can play at a level I just dream about.

I'm working on it though.

He's a gentleman, he has some ink, a hat with some dreams in it, he seems stable with himself, I think he found out who he really is, 'the big search for identity', something I did much later in life. So mature. But he still has a little rascal hidden somewhere inside and that my friends and enemies - that makes him just more whole. His potential as a chess streamer/coach, can't be anything more than - huge! But surely hard work and a sprinkle luck.

I think he should get a sidekick to some of his shows, maybe he and Levy 'GothamChess'  Rozman could do something together. I don't know, it's just a thought and yes - I think a lot. Some guests maybe.

Love that hat. He's doing his thing and he does it so good. He also told me that he wants to be a GM because there aren't that many afro-americans that are. I get that fully and there is a lot of angles to calculate - in a thought like that - if you take time to really think about it. All the history, through ages - being an afro-american.

Keeping kids away from the street (through chess), to (after some time) discover some purpose, self confidence and it's true - power comes from within, beneath a calm ocean strength rests. To inspire others.

James III Canty - I salute you brother! You have my respect, my love and attention.

Ps. So are you going to visit his stream? You do like chess, right? How many rhetorical questions do you think I can hide within a text? Do I put any between the lines? I'm confused but ... I already knew that. Ds.