Chess prodigy

Their prodigious talent will often enable them to defeat experienced adult players and even titled chess masters.

Early chess prodigies included Paul Morphy (1837–1884) and José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), both of whom won matches against strong adult opponents at the age of 12, and Samuel Reshevsky (1911–1992), who was giving simultaneous exhibitions at the age of six.

There is often widespread attention when a young player defeats a Grandmaster, whether in a standard tournament game or less formal conditions.

The previous record was set by Leonid Ivanovic, who in January 2024 defeated Milko Popchev at the Novogodisnji rating ŠSB in Belgrade, Serbia at the age of 8 years, 11 months, and 7 days.

This is not equal to the age at which they officially became grandmasters, because GM titles can only be awarded at FIDE congresses.