Abhimanyu Mishra is an amazing American chess prodigy
On June 30, 2021, Mishra (an Indian-origin chess player from New Jersey) became the youngest person ever to qualify as a grandmaster at the age of 12 years 4 months and 25 days. By doing so he beated Sergey Karjakin's record - which he held since 2002.
Chess Career
Mishra has gained the United States Chess Federation record for the youngest Expert by earning a 2000 USCF rating at the age of 7 years, 6 months, and 22 days, breaking the record of Awonder Liang. Mishra then broke the US Chess record for the youngest National Master by earning a 2200 USCF rating at the age of 9 years, 2 months, and 17 days, breaking the record of Liran Zhou. He holds the world record for the youngest International Master, a title which he earned in November 2019 at the age of 10 years, 9 months, and 20 days, breaking the record of Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. FIDE awarded Mishra the title in February 2020.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →In March 2021, Mishra tied for the first place with GM Vladimir Belous in the Charlotte Chess Center.
To become a grandmaster, a player must score three GM norms while each norm is scored by achieving a performance rating of over 2600 in a tournament and exceed a rating of 2500. In April 2021, Mishra tied for first place at the Vezérképző GM tournament in Budapest, Hungary, with a score of 7.0/9 and performance rating of 2603, earning his first GM norm. In May 2021, Mishra earned clear first place at the First Saturday GM tournament in Budapest, Hungary, with a score of 8.0/9 and performance rating of 2739, having clinched his second GM norm with one round to spare and exceeding the norm by a full point. In June 2021, Mishra earned clear first place at the Vezérképző GM Mix tournament in Budapest, Hungary, with a score of 7.0/9 and a performance rating of 2619; giving him his third GM norm. As his rating had also crossed 2500, this third norm made Mishra the youngest Grandmaster in chess history, breaking the record of Sergey Karjakin by over 2 months.
Mishra received congratulations from many players, including former record holder Karjakin and World Champion Magnus Carlsen. A New York Times article cited concerns from Nigel Short and Bruce Pandolfini about the methods used to achieve the feat, alleging that the GM qualification structure encourages "norm" tournaments that narrowly qualify as prestigious enough to count as a GM norm, but no tougher, to make a strong performance from the candidate easier to achieve; and that Karjakin had benefited from similar tournaments. The article also notes Mishra's opponents' average rating was noticeably lower in Hungary than in Charlotte, North Carolina. World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi suggested that some changes could be made to the qualification process. American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has both openly praised Mishra for his accomplishment and discussed the controversy raised by Nepomniachtchi.
Mishra played in the 2021 Chess World Cup, losing to Baadur Jobava in the first round.
Mishra won the St. Louis 2022 Spring Chess Classic B with a score of 7/9 and a tournament performance rating of 2739.
Top questions
Who is Abhimanyu Mishra?
Abhimanyu Mishra is an American chess prodigy who, on 30 June 2021, became the youngest person ever to qualify as a grandmaster, at the age of 12 years, 4 months and 25 days. He also holds the world record for the youngest International Master, a title he earned at 10 years, 9 months and 20 days.
How did Abhimanyu Mishra become the youngest grandmaster?
He earned three grandmaster norms in Budapest, Hungary in 2021, with performance ratings of 2603 in April, 2739 in May and 2619 in June, and his rating had also crossed 2500. The third norm made him the youngest grandmaster in chess history, breaking Sergey Karjakin's record by over two months.
What other age records does Abhimanyu Mishra hold?
He earned the US Chess record for the youngest Expert with a 2000 rating at age 7 years, 6 months and 22 days, and the record for the youngest National Master with a 2200 rating at 9 years, 2 months and 17 days. He earned the International Master title in November 2019, and FIDE awarded it in February 2020.
Why was Abhimanyu Mishra's grandmaster record debated?
A New York Times article cited concerns from Nigel Short and Bruce Pandolfini about the methods used, alleging that the grandmaster qualification structure encourages norm tournaments that only narrowly count as prestigious enough. Players including Sergey Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen congratulated him, and Hikaru Nakamura praised the accomplishment while also discussing the controversy.
Which tournaments has Abhimanyu Mishra won?
In March 2021 he tied for first place with Grandmaster Vladimir Belous at the Charlotte Chess Center, and in May 2021 he took clear first at the First Saturday GM tournament in Budapest with 8.0/9. He won the St. Louis 2022 Spring Chess Classic B with 7/9 and a performance rating of 2739.
