By Brian Lee
SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. (Worcester Telegram and Gazette) — In less than a year, 13-year-old Sam Sevian of Southbridge became the youngest-ever US chess Grandmaster.
The previous record was set in October 2009 by Ray Robson of Florida a few weeks shy of his 15th birthday. After 11 months of anticipation that Sam might break the mark, he abruptly ended the suspense during a recent tournament in St. Louis.
During what his father, Armen Sevian, called one of Sam’s best tournaments to date, the teen achieved the title Nov. 22, at age 13 years, 10 months and 27 days.
Sam set the mark by eclipsing the 2,500-point rating in the World Chess Federation during the Chess Club and Scholastic Center 2014 Invitational in Missouri.