BOY CROWNED YOUNGEST US CHESS GRANDMASTER
Sky News
Nov 28 2014
Samuel Sevian brushed aside three other grandmasters to himself claim
the much-coveted title at a tournament.
By Sky News US Team
A 13-year-old boy has his sights set on becoming world chess champion
after he was crowned the youngest ever American grandmaster.
Samuel Sevian, the son of an Armenian immigrant, beat the previous
US record holder by more than a year.
He was elevated after four victories - three of them against other
grandmasters - at a tournament in St Louis, Missouri, last weekend.
Samuel's performance raised his World Chess Federation ranking past
2,500 points, enough to achieve the status.
The Massachusetts teenager, who turns 14 next month, told AFP news
agency: "I feel really good and somewhat relieved.
Samuel Sevian plays chess against his father, Armen
"This was one of my best tournament performances."
His proud father, Armen, a scientist, said the fourth game, which
clinched it, was the toughest of all.
"It was like a blitz," he said. "It came down to the last seconds.
Both players were shaking."
The previous record for the youngest US grandmaster was achieved by
Ray Robson, two weeks before he turned 15.
American legend Bobby Fischer also once held the record.
Samuel's next target is to reach 2,600 points, which would secure
him invitations to the most prestigious tournaments.
The chess star's father said he is the sixth-youngest grandmaster in
the world.
The youngest grandmaster is Russia's Sergey Karjakin, who achieved
the status at just 12 years and seven months old.
http://news.sky.com/story/1382276/boy-crowned-youngest-us-chess-grandmaster
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Sky News
Nov 28 2014
Samuel Sevian brushed aside three other grandmasters to himself claim
the much-coveted title at a tournament.
By Sky News US Team
A 13-year-old boy has his sights set on becoming world chess champion
after he was crowned the youngest ever American grandmaster.
Samuel Sevian, the son of an Armenian immigrant, beat the previous
US record holder by more than a year.
He was elevated after four victories - three of them against other
grandmasters - at a tournament in St Louis, Missouri, last weekend.
Samuel's performance raised his World Chess Federation ranking past
2,500 points, enough to achieve the status.
The Massachusetts teenager, who turns 14 next month, told AFP news
agency: "I feel really good and somewhat relieved.
Samuel Sevian plays chess against his father, Armen
"This was one of my best tournament performances."
His proud father, Armen, a scientist, said the fourth game, which
clinched it, was the toughest of all.
"It was like a blitz," he said. "It came down to the last seconds.
Both players were shaking."
The previous record for the youngest US grandmaster was achieved by
Ray Robson, two weeks before he turned 15.
American legend Bobby Fischer also once held the record.
Samuel's next target is to reach 2,600 points, which would secure
him invitations to the most prestigious tournaments.
The chess star's father said he is the sixth-youngest grandmaster in
the world.
The youngest grandmaster is Russia's Sergey Karjakin, who achieved
the status at just 12 years and seven months old.
http://news.sky.com/story/1382276/boy-crowned-youngest-us-chess-grandmaster
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress