Sport - Chess   

Negi becomes the youngest IM norm holder

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 6. Chess prodigy Parimarjan Negi has become the youngest International Master (IM) norm-holder in the country.

The FIDE, the governing body of chess, has decided to award a nine-game Swiss League norm to Negi for his stupendous showing in a tough open tournament in Germany in November.

Confirming this, the All India Chess Federation Secretary P.T. Ummer Koya, who is also one of the Vice Presidents of FIDE, said, "it's great news for Indian chess. Going by Negi's encouraging results, I've no doubt that he'll join the elite `GM-Club' sooner than later.''

Negi, a student of Delhi's Amity International and on a scholarship with Indian Airlines, had scored 6.5 points from nine rounds in the Offene International Bayerishche Meisterschaft at Bad Wiessee, Germany played from Nov. 8 to 16.

Negi, seeded a distant 193 in the field of 438 players, including 21 GMs, 16 IMs, three woman GMs and a woman IM, finished 36th after being tied for 21 to 38 positions. Since Negi had met only four titled players, one less than stipulated for securing a nine-game IM norm, the organisers had asked the player to apply to FIDE, via the AICF, for waiving the condition since he had scored sufficient points.

Creditably, the 10-year-old Negi drew with German Grandmaster Romuald Mainka (whose Elo rating was 2459 against Negi's 2103) in the final round. The organisers had issued a provisional IM-norm certificate to Negi subject to confirmation by FIDE.

The previous youngest IM-norm holder in the country was GM Hari Krishna, who made it at the age of 13 years and seven months. For the record, Negi achieved the norm in 10 years, nine months and seven days.

Negi, a chubby-cheeked introvert who prefers his chess to do the talking, was pleased with the news of the confrmation of the norm. ``This makes me feel good and I hope get some good results in the Commonwealth Championship,'' said Negi as he prepared for the event which commences in Mumbai on Jan. 10.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Others | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment |

Stories in this Section

Cricket

• Vintage Waugh saves Australia the blushes
• Congratulations to an united Indian team
• Congratulations to an united Indian team
• All about Steve Waugh
• A hero goes out in his patented style
• Missing their hero's farewell party
• Keen contests in prospect
• We have the potential to become the best: Ganguly
• It hasn't sunk in yet for Waugh
  
  Tennis
  
• Easy outing for Moya
• Wednesday's schedule
• Nadal — the current Spanish delight
  
  Chess
  
• Mary, Arun triumph in style
• Negi becomes the youngest IM norm holder
• Kunte finishes fourth
  
  Bridge
  
• Formidables takes top spot in Gr. A
  
  

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu