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Hikaru Nakamura wins National Open Blitz Championship
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(March 2000)
Twelve year old Hikaru Nakamura shocked a very powerful field which included six GMs and two IMs
by scoring 11-3 and tying for first with super-GM Jaan Ehlvest of Estonia (rated USCF 2741!).
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The event was a 7-round Swiss System tournament with two 5-minute games per round.
Each player gets both White and Black against his opponent.
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Round-by-round. Hikaru easily won his first two matches 2-0 each, then tied his matches against
IM Pavel Blatny and GM Nikolai Andrianov, 1-1 each.
He then defeated IM Igor Ivanov 2-0 and tied GM Dmitry Gurevich 1-1. This gave him 9-3 going into the final round.
Ehlvest, at 10-2, took two quick draws against Blatny (perhaps thinking he would coast into first place).
Hikaru was paired against Darmen Sadvakasov(2521). Playing to a large gallery of eager spectators,
Hikaru scored a dramatic 2-0 upset! GM Ehlvest had to settle for sharing the first place prize money.
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In the main (slow chess) National Open event, Hikaru also played fine chess, scoring 4.5/6 to tie for second under 2500. Ever busy, he also gave a simulaneous exhibition, scoring 14 wins and 7 draws.
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About Hikaru. Hikaru made National headlines in 1998 when he
became the youngest USCF National Master ever at the age of only 10 years and 79 days.
He made International headlines in February 1999 when he beat Grandmaster Alexander Stripunsky in
regulation time control, at the record age of 11 years and two months! Hikaru continues to improve (and collect Grandmaster scalps).
More Articles about Hikaru.
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