Nine-Year-Old Is Youngest American Chess Master

Californian previously youngest to hold 'expert' rank
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Suggested by Rugal10
Posted Dec 22, 2010 3:44 PM CST
Nine-Year-Old Is Youngest American Chess Master
File photo   (AP)

A 9-year-old Californian is the youngest American to achieve the rank of "national master," reports the San Jose Mercury News. Samuel Sevian had already been the youngest person, at the age of 8, to be certified a chess "expert," and he got promoted again by the US Chess Federation after a recent match in San Francisco.

"It feels good," says Sam, who practices two hours a day with his father and his coach, the latter via Skype. The Sevians are from Armenia, where "chess is very big," Sam's father tells the Mercury News. "It's certainly not a geek sport. Chess players are compared to rock stars." Click here for more and to see a photo of Sam playing.
(More chess stories.)

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