Many American masters crossed the Atlantic seeking norms for the most prestigious titles in chess (GM and IM). The close proximity of many countries permits easy travel from one event to another. European organizers also benefit from open borders, helping them attract the necessary foreign players to award international title norms. Opportunity knocks for American masters who can afford to spend a month playing chess in Europe.
After picking up his High School diploma from Crystal Springs Uplands School, Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky set out to play three consecutive tournaments in the vicinity of Barcelona, Spain. Having already achieved the highest title in chess, his objective became gaining experience and rating points. Consider the mission accomplished! Danya added 28 points total to raise his FIDE rating to 2587, boosted by a 2701 performance at Teplice. Check out the game above to see how he tears down the Berlin Wall against fellow 18-year old talent, GM Karen Grigoryan of Armenia.
Now the top rated scholastic (K-12) player in Northern California, 17-year old FM Yian Liou also entered a trio of European tournaments, although he flew to Belgrade, Serbia. In three weeks, he picked up a valuable pair of IM norms (his third and fourth) and earned 30 points for a projected 2417 international rating. Yian scalped his first Grandmaster in Novi Sad, and then repeated the feat a week later in Paracin! The latter success came by a powerful attack against Serbian GM Borko Lajthajm (see game below).
No comments:
Post a Comment