Negi becomes youngest ever GM

The 12-year-old chess prodigy created history by becoming the youngest-ever Indian to get a Grandmaster norm.

Prodigal chess player Parimarjan Negi created history by becoming the youngest-ever Indian to get a Grandmaster norm after drawing with GM Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine in the ninth and penultimate round of the Masters section of Hastings International Chess Congress.

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The 12-year-old Negi, who had also completed his International Master title requirements earlier in this event, made another step forward after drawing with teenaged GM Kuzubov to get his first nine-game norm.

As per FIDE stipulations, the total number of norm games should be 24 in case there is a norm made in round-robin (all-play-all) event and 27 in case all norms are made in Swiss events.

Meanwhile, Valerij Neverov of Ukraine took the sole lead in the tournament after defeating GM Sergey Erenburg of Israel. With a black piece victory Valerij almost assured himself of the title on 7.5 points as he will play with white pieces in the final round game.

GM Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia and Milos Pavlovic of Serbia are a half point behind Neverov while four players share the next spot on 6.5 points.

Negi on six points, is in the next group of nine players and will meet top seed GM Vladimir Belov of Russia in the last round game.