Nine-Year-Old Roman Shogdzhiev Breaks Record as Youngest Player to Score IM Norm

Nine-year-old Roman Shogdzhiev has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to score an international master (IM) norm. In a field with two grandmasters and two international masters, Shogdzhiev scored an impressive 7/9 at the Radnickichess IM tournament in Serbia, securing the norm with an 11-move draw against GM Branko Damljanovic.

This exceptional feat has earned Shogdzhiev a performance rating of 2452, gaining him 88 rating points. His talent is evident not only in classical chess but also in speed chess, with a FIDE blitz rating of 2418. He has regularly delivered grandmaster performances in blitz tournaments, defeating strong GMs such as Andrey Esipenko, Vladimir Potkin, Ernesto Inarkiev, and Aleksey Dreev.

Shogdzhiev’s rise to success is emblematic of a new generation of young players who have taken up chess during the pandemic. Alongside other prodigies like Ethan Pang and Bodhana Sivanandan, Shogdzhiev represents the future of chess with his exceptional skills and achievements at such a young age.

Born in Elista, Kalmykia, Shogdzhiev now resides near Moscow with his family and has recently secured a sponsor deal with a law firm. His remarkable journey in the world of chess continues to inspire and impress chess enthusiasts worldwide.