November 23, 2024

Erdogmus Becomes World’s Youngest Grandmaster At 12

12-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus from Turkey is set to become the world’s youngest grandmaster. Photo: Angelika Valkova/GRENKE Chess.

12-year-old Turkish chess sensation IM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus is the new youngest grandmaster in the world and the fourth youngest to achieve the title in history. He earned his third grandmaster norm in Germany on Monday and his title is pending approval from FIDE. Erdogmus is also on the verge of breaking a 35-year-old rating record.

GM Hans Niemann convincingly won the GRENKE Chess Open, but a 12-year-old prodigy stole the show and proved that he is one of the biggest prospects in the chess world at the moment.

Erodogmus finished 20th in the tournament, scoring 7 points from the nine rounds. He won six games, drew twice, and lost only once, to world number-nine, GM Arjun Erigaisi.

With a gain of 13 rating points, Erdogmus has an unofficial rating of 2553. He is closing in on GM Judit Polgar’s legendary 2555 rating as a 12-year-old in 1989, the highest ever for a player under the age of 13. The Turkish prodigy could potentially exceed the milestone next week as he competes in the Menorca Open, which began on the Spanish island on Tuesday.

More importantly, he secured his third and final grandmaster norm, which means he is set to become Turkey’s 16th grandmaster. In a comment provided to Chess.com, his father said: “Yagiz has a hobby that he really likes. He is just enjoying it and is not focusing on the rest that much.“

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