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At 13, Sevian is youngest-ever US chess Grandmaster

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  • At 13, Sevian is youngest-ever US chess Grandmaster

    Agence France Presse
    November 28, 2014 Friday 1:42 AM GMT

    At 13, Sevian is youngest-ever US chess Grandmaster

    WASHINGTON, Nov 28 2014

    Not many people can claim to have shattered a major American record at
    13 years, 10 months and 27 days.

    But chess prodigy Samuel Sevian can now do just that, after being
    crowned America's youngest-ever Grandmaster, easily besting the
    country's previous record holder by more than a year.

    At a tournament in St Louis last weekend, he won all four of his games
    to push his World Chess Federation rating past 2,500 points -- enough
    to secure Grandmaster status.

    "I feel really good and somewhat relieved. This was one of my best
    tournament performances," the teen told AFP, noting that he had beaten
    three Grandmasters during the event in only 20-25 moves.

    His father Armen -- a scientist born and raised in Armenia who later
    emigrated to the United States -- is bursting with pride.

    "He really outplayed his opponents in three games. But the fourth, it
    was really back and forth, it wasn't clear," he said.

    "It was like a blitz, it came down to the last seconds. Both players
    were shaking."

    The previous record for the youngest US Grandmaster was held by Ray
    Robson, who achieved the title two weeks before he turned 15. American
    legend Bobby Fischer also once held the record.

    At an August tournament, the bespectacled Samuel had put the record
    within reach, getting to within 14 points of the 2,500 needed for the
    elite Grandmaster title.

    The young chess wizard is well accustomed to setting US records,
    having become the youngest American Expert (another ranking) shortly
    before his 10th birthday.

    At 12 years and 10 months, he became the country's youngest
    International Master.

    Samuel's next target is to get to 2,600 points, which would secure him
    invitations to the most prestigious tournaments.

    His ultimate dream is to become world champion; the question is when
    he will be ready to tackle the challenge.

    "It's way out in the future and I don't want to busy my head with it
    now. First, I would need to improve my game," he said.

    "After my big win in St Louis, my confidence level is high. This
    definitely helps."

    The chess star's father said he is the sixth-youngest Grandmaster in the world.

    The youngest person to win the status is Russia's Sergey Karjakin, who
    became a Grandmaster when he was just 12 years and seven months old.

    Samuel, who lives in the Boston area, said he was overcome with
    emotion when he realized he was about to achieve elite status in the
    chess world.

    "The pressure was enormous when I played my fourth game, which I
    needed to win to go over the 2,500 mark," he said.

    "I'm suddenly a Grandmaster and felt overwhelmed."

    In the coming weeks, Samuel will spend three days in New York at the
    Garry Kasparov Foundation. The chess legend is one of Samuel's regular
    trainers and will be present for the three-day visit.

    The foundation hailed his achievement, saying he is "the world's first
    Grandmaster born in this millennium."

    After celebrating his 14th birthday on December 26, Samuel will
    participate in another tournament in the Netherlands.

    "We want to go more to Europe. There's stronger competition over
    there," said Armen Sevian, himself a former high-level player.

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