Second youngest 2700 rating in chess history, just now

[Leonard Barden]

Alireza Firouzja reached a 2700 live rating this morning. The Iranian, 16, defeated 2501-rated Vugar Asadli
https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2019-tu ... adli_Vugar in the 13th and final round of the Turkish League to take his total to 11.5/13 and achieve 2700 on the live ratings, though 2700 chess hasn't updated yet.

Firouzja is the second youngest 2700 player in chess history at 16 years 1 month. Wei Yi of China is still the youngest at 15 years 8 months, and Magnus Carlsen the third youngest at 16 years 7 months.

By chance Firouzja and Wei Yi meet this afternoon (4pm BST start) in the semi-final of the Chesscom junior speed championship, a mix of 5min, 3 min and 1min games, which will be streamed live on chesscom. The winner meets Jeffery Xiong of the US in the final. Firouzja is already recognised as in the world top three at 1min-bullet, along with Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

Should be worth watching.

[Nick Burrows]

Thanks Leonard

[John McKenna]

Yes, thanks for that heads up, Leonard.

No predictions, Nick? (My crystal ball's cracked.)

[Nick Burrows]

Firouzja

[John McKenna]

Sorry, not this time, Nick.

https://www.chess.com/news/view/junior- ... s-firouzja

I watched some of the early games and Wei was consistently the better player. Though Firouzja eventually got his first win with a good kid's KID.