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YOUNG BAY AREA CHESS CHAMP HOPES TO BECOME GRANDMASTER
By Molly Vorwerck
San Jose Mercury News
July 9, 2012 Monday
California
In many ways, Sam is a typical 11-year-old boy from Santa Clara.
He plans to start sixth grade in the fall at Don Callejon School,
where his favorite subject is math; he loves to read, particularly
fantasy books; and, though he plays soccer and basketball, he's an
avid San Jose Sharks fan.
But this soft-spoken, at times serious preteen is far from your
average middle-schooler.
Sam Sevian is the youngest national master of chess in U.S. history,
a title he received in 2010 at the age of 9 years, 11 months and 23
days. Like his idol, Bobby Fischer, Sam ranks as one of the nation's
most accomplished chess prodigies of all time, with an impressive
rating of 2281 in the World Chess Federation (FIDE). In comparison,
it takes a score of more than 2500 to be considered a grandmaster.
Recently, Sam, along with six other young American chess players,
was chosen to participate in an elite five-year grant program founded
through a partnership between the Kasparov Chess Foundation, one of
the leading chess organizations in the country, and the Chess Club
and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, a chess education facility.
The program, Young Stars -- Team USA, hopes to train these
up-and-coming chess standouts for future U.S. Olympiad teams. In
this program, former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and other
chess legends will provide one-on-one instruction for Sam and the
other players. During the kick-off session, Sam was tutored by former
Soviet Champion Alexander Chernin.
Sam's foray into the world of pawns and checkmates began early. He
first showed interest in chess at age 5, when his father, Armen Sevian,
got him hooked on the cerebral game. Sam participated in his first
tournament at age 6.
"Well, you know, I myself back in Armenia was playing, and kind of
love the game, and taught Sam and he picked it up," Sevian said. "He
had this ability to see pretty far ahead without moving the pieces,
and that's a good indication that he can continue."
Sam practices chess three to five hours per day, either with his
father, top-rated players on the Internet or his Los Angeles-based
coach, international master Andranik Matikozian, over Skype.
Matikozian has been training Sam for four years. He says Sam is well
on his way to broader horizons.
"He definitely will become a grandmaster," Matikozian said. "But I
think more than a grandmaster, he wants to become a world champion."
In order to improve Sam's ranking, Sevian enrolls his son in
tournaments across the world. Sam most recently competed in the 19th
annual Metropolitan Chess World FIDE Invitational in Los Angeles where
he received his first norm, chess jargon for a mark awarded for good
performance. Three are necessary to become an international master. In
April, Sam plans to attend the World Amateur Championships in Iasi,
Romania, in hopes of increasing his ranking.
Sevian admits that these excursions can be pricey at upward of $1,500
per tournament, including entrance fee, travel costs and hotel rates.
The expenses add up, and the Sevians are looking for fundraising and
sponsorship opportunities.
Despite his frequent traveling and rigorous practice schedule, Sam
insists he is able to balance chess with his everyday obligations.
"I do my homework quickly," he said.
However, his father said Sam's chess training likely has prevented
him from fully embracing his youth.
"I think he does miss out on a lot of his childhood," Sevian said. "I
think it's actually because he loves chess. You take him out to
places and he still thinks about the games. In a way, you know,
it's kind of like he lives and breathes chess."
Sam's drive to succeed outweighs any desire he might have to lead
a normal childhood. Like a seasoned professional, he downplays his
current title of national master as just a stepping stone toward the
greater goal: grandmaster.
"I felt good about," he said about his achievement. "But I wanted to
get better than that."
By Molly Vorwerck
San Jose Mercury News
July 9, 2012 Monday
California
In many ways, Sam is a typical 11-year-old boy from Santa Clara.
He plans to start sixth grade in the fall at Don Callejon School,
where his favorite subject is math; he loves to read, particularly
fantasy books; and, though he plays soccer and basketball, he's an
avid San Jose Sharks fan.
But this soft-spoken, at times serious preteen is far from your
average middle-schooler.
Sam Sevian is the youngest national master of chess in U.S. history,
a title he received in 2010 at the age of 9 years, 11 months and 23
days. Like his idol, Bobby Fischer, Sam ranks as one of the nation's
most accomplished chess prodigies of all time, with an impressive
rating of 2281 in the World Chess Federation (FIDE). In comparison,
it takes a score of more than 2500 to be considered a grandmaster.
Recently, Sam, along with six other young American chess players,
was chosen to participate in an elite five-year grant program founded
through a partnership between the Kasparov Chess Foundation, one of
the leading chess organizations in the country, and the Chess Club
and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, a chess education facility.
The program, Young Stars -- Team USA, hopes to train these
up-and-coming chess standouts for future U.S. Olympiad teams. In
this program, former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov and other
chess legends will provide one-on-one instruction for Sam and the
other players. During the kick-off session, Sam was tutored by former
Soviet Champion Alexander Chernin.
Sam's foray into the world of pawns and checkmates began early. He
first showed interest in chess at age 5, when his father, Armen Sevian,
got him hooked on the cerebral game. Sam participated in his first
tournament at age 6.
"Well, you know, I myself back in Armenia was playing, and kind of
love the game, and taught Sam and he picked it up," Sevian said. "He
had this ability to see pretty far ahead without moving the pieces,
and that's a good indication that he can continue."
Sam practices chess three to five hours per day, either with his
father, top-rated players on the Internet or his Los Angeles-based
coach, international master Andranik Matikozian, over Skype.
Matikozian has been training Sam for four years. He says Sam is well
on his way to broader horizons.
"He definitely will become a grandmaster," Matikozian said. "But I
think more than a grandmaster, he wants to become a world champion."
In order to improve Sam's ranking, Sevian enrolls his son in
tournaments across the world. Sam most recently competed in the 19th
annual Metropolitan Chess World FIDE Invitational in Los Angeles where
he received his first norm, chess jargon for a mark awarded for good
performance. Three are necessary to become an international master. In
April, Sam plans to attend the World Amateur Championships in Iasi,
Romania, in hopes of increasing his ranking.
Sevian admits that these excursions can be pricey at upward of $1,500
per tournament, including entrance fee, travel costs and hotel rates.
The expenses add up, and the Sevians are looking for fundraising and
sponsorship opportunities.
Despite his frequent traveling and rigorous practice schedule, Sam
insists he is able to balance chess with his everyday obligations.
"I do my homework quickly," he said.
However, his father said Sam's chess training likely has prevented
him from fully embracing his youth.
"I think he does miss out on a lot of his childhood," Sevian said. "I
think it's actually because he loves chess. You take him out to
places and he still thinks about the games. In a way, you know,
it's kind of like he lives and breathes chess."
Sam's drive to succeed outweighs any desire he might have to lead
a normal childhood. Like a seasoned professional, he downplays his
current title of national master as just a stepping stone toward the
greater goal: grandmaster.
"I felt good about," he said about his achievement. "But I wanted to
get better than that."