Daniil Dubov, grandmaster at fourteen

Daniil Dubov, grandmaster at fourteen

By James Satrapa

Daniil Dubov at the Moscow Blitz Championship in August 2010 (he finished ninth out of 20)

Daniil Dubov, once coached by GM Sergey Dolmatov, has recently come under the tutelage of GM Sergey Shipov who describes Dubov’s style as being akin to that of Petrosian. He has an impressive array of age-based competition results under his belt, frequently fighting "above his weight” in a manner reminiscent of Azeri prodigy Teimour Radjabov a decade ago. Starting in 2006 with third place in the U10 Championship of Russia and equal second in the European U10 championship, Dubov displayed his precocious talent at the Moscow U16 Open by placing equal third. In 2007, his results were an even more impressive second at the Moscow U16 and equal fourth in the Moscow U18 Championship. Some more fine results followed with second place in the U12 European Championship in 2008 behind co-leader, the young Bulgarian talent Kiprian Berbatov whom he defeated in their individual encounter, and equal second at the U16 Russian Championship of 2009.

In more open competition, and at the tender age of ten, Dubov played in the Moscow Team Championships of 2006, recording his first win against an international master, Aleksei Kireev. In 2007, he took on the field at the Aeroflot Tournament in the C Division, scoring 6/9. In 2008, Dubov took second place in the international open at Eforie Nord in Romania and equal third at the David Bronstein Memorial Open. His 5/9 at the 2009 Aeroflot Open A2 while still twelve years old won him his first IM norm. His second IM norm followed shortly afterwards when he won the 7th Vanya Somov Memorial World Youth Stars competition ahead of a galaxy of talented young stars including GM Aleksandr Shimanov. He bagged his third IM norm, and the IM title, later in 2009 at the World Chess Tour 4th Grandmaster Tournament when he secured a draw against GM Rufat Bagirov in the last round, after registering his first win against another GM: Rashid Ziatdinov in the third round.

Late 2009 saw 13-year old Dubov playing board 2 for the gold medal winning Russian team at the World U16 Olympiad in Akhisar in Turkey, where he won an individual bronze medal alongside his talented team mates who all won individual medals.

After placing equal fourth in the Moscow Championship of 2010, his 6/9 against a powerful field in the Voronezh Masters 2010, with an even score against six grandmasters (+1 –1 =4) and wins against the rest of his opponents landed him his first GM norm. His second GM norm followed shortly after with a sterling 5/9 result and a TPR of 2699 against nine grandmasters rated between 2621 and 2689 in the 2011 Aeroflot Open . A positive 6/11 result at the 2011 European Individual Championship against opponents that included nine grandmasters, all rated over 2600 brought home his third grandmaster norm.

An expert rapid player at an early age, Dubov won the U10 rapid chess championship of Russia in 2005 and was runner-up in the same event in 2006, in the European U10 rapid chess championship of 2006, and in the European U12 rapid chess championship in 2008. He capped these feats in 2008 by winning the U18 lightning tournament of Moscow.

Dubov’s rating in FIDE’s most recent rating list on July 1st, 2011 is 2501, which means he is now the third ranked U16 player in Russia and the eighth ranked U16 player in the world. He is also the second youngest GM in the world (after the young Ukrainian wizard Illya Nyzhnyk) and the third born in 1996, the others being Nyzhnyk and Hungary’s Richard Rapport.

Here is a game that Dubov won at Aeroflot on his way to his second grandmaster norm. He counters GM Pavel Maletin’s Anti-Moscow Gambit and then repulses his king side attack to produce this brevity:

Three GM norms

Daniil Dubov's third GM norm was acquired during the 2011 European Individual Championship that started on 22 March 2011 and finished on 2 April 2011. His rating as on 1 March 2011 was 2489 and on 1 May 2011 it was 2505, which was the first time his rating crossed 2500. The GM norm required six points for the EIC. Dubov achieved his requisite six points in his round ten win against GM Kurnosov, which was played on 1 April 2011 (he lost round 11 on 2 April). Therefore Dubov became a GM on 1 April 2011 at the age of 14 years 11 months 14 days.

Ratings information: FIDE

James Satrapa has worked and lived in every State and Territory of his native island, Australia. When he found himself in one place long enough to indulge his passion for chess, he keenly participated in club and State championship chess. After he started losing to young players whose feet didn't reach the floor from their chairs he retired to the more leisurely labours of Internet-based chess playing and occasional commentary. James now lives with his family and works in the national capital, Canberra, as a consultant in risk management.

Youngest grandmasters in history

Links

• Chess Prodigies and mini-grandmasters – updated list of record-breakers
• GM title for Illya Nyzhnyk in Groningen
• Richárd Rapport – grandmaster at thirteen
• Parimarjan Negi becomes India's Youngest Grandmaster
• Hou Yifan – the youngest female grandmaster in history

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