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12th February, 2003
SINCE Bobby Fischerís more or less self-imposed retirement from
the game after winning the world title in 1972, Americans have been continually
searching for his successor.
The most celebrated is unquestionably Josh Waitzkin, whose eminent rise
through the notoriously tough junior competitions to become a leading
contender was memorably chronicled by his journalist father, Fred, in
his compelling memoir ìSearching For Bobby Fischerî; a book
that went on to become a major Hollywood film starring Joe Mantegna, Max
Pomeranc, Joan Allen, Ben Kingsley and Laurence Fishburne.
The latest wunderkind to follow in Fischerís footsteps is Hikaru
Nakamura, 15, from the City of White Plains, New York. Nakamura started
playing tournament chess in 1995 at the age of 7. Whilst reading the Guinness
Book of World Records at 9, he made a chance discovery that that he had
only three-months to beat a record by becoming Americaís youngest
National Master ñ so he decided to do something about it. After
breaking this record, he then progressed to become (at 11) the youngest
player in the world to beat a grandmaster in serious tournament praxis.
Now, playing only last week at his favourite hunting ground of the Bermuda
International (scene of his first GM norm last year), Nakamura earned
his third and final GM norm by scoring 7.5-3.5 (six wins, three draws
and two loses) to finish in clear second place in the Invitational GM
ëBí tournament ñ in the process, breaking a long-standing
Fischer record of some 44-years to now become the youngest American player
to attain the hallowed title of Grandmaster.
M Mulyar ñ H Nakamura
Bermuda GM ëBí, (11)
Sicilian Najdorf
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 Qf3 Nbd7 8 Be2
Qc7 9 0-0-0 b5 10 a3 Bb7 11 Bg5 Rc8 12 Bd3 Be7 13 Qg3 Qd8 14 Bd2 Ne5 15
Kb1 0-0 16 h4 Nfd7 17 Bg5 Rxc3 18 bxc3 Nb6 19 Bc1 Na4 20 Ne2 Qc7 21 f4
Nd7 22 Qe3 Bf6 23 Bd2 Rc8 24 g4 d5 25 e5 Be7 26 Bc1 d4 27 cxd4 Bxh1 28
Rxh1 b4 29 Qe4 g6 30 Ka2 bxa3 31 f5 Rb8 32 c4 Ndc5 33 dxc5 Nxc5 34 Qf3
Qxe5 35 Bxa3 Nxd3 36 Qxd3 Bxa3 37 Nc3 Qa5 38 Qc2 Rb2+ 39 Qxb2 Bxb2+ 40
Kxb2 Qb4+ 0-1
JOHN B HENDERSON
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