Picture from Chessbase
The Amity Grandmaster Challenge
World’s youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi, 13, will play against World’s youngest Girl Grandmaster and reigning European Women’s champion Kateryna Lahno, 16, of Ukraine in ‘The Amity Grandmasters Challenge’ to be held in New Delhi from 17-25 December 2006.
The first of its kind match to be held in India will be played over 18 games and will have a total prize pool of Rs. 500000/- (Rupees Five Lakh) out of which 3 Lakhs will be given to the winner while the loser will go home richer by Rupees 2 Lakhs.
The match will be organized in three phases. There will be 6 games each under FIDE time control, rapid chess and blitz and the winner will be announced taking into account net score from all these games.
Parimarjan Negi was all pleased on confirmation of the match. “I am really pleased that I will get a chance to play my first match against such a renowned opponent. I think I owe a thanks to Amity for reposing faith in my abilities”, said the 13 year-old who is a student of Amity International School, Saket.
Kateryna Lahno is likely to come to India with her trainer GM Ruslan Scherbakov of Russia who has also trained Parimarjan in the past. Parimarjan is expected to be assisted by one of his foreign trainers during the match.
Highlights:
1. There will be six games under FIDE time control.
2. Six Rapid games
3. Six Blitz Games
4. The winner will be decided on the basis of accumulated results.
5. The prize money will be Rs. 300000/- for the winner and Rs. 200000/- for the loser.
6. As a run up to the event there will be a simultaneous exhibition both by Kateryna and Parimarjan. This would possibly be one or two days before the match starts.
7. Both players irrespective of the result of the game have to give a media briefing to ensure maximum mileage to the event.
The Schedule:
1. December 16: Inauguration Ceremony and Simultaneous exhibition: 3 PM
2. December 17: Game 1 at 2:30 PM
3. December 18: Game 2 at 2:30 PM
4. December 19: Game 3 at 2:30 PM
5. December 20: Game 4 at 2:30 PM
6. December 21: Game 5 at 2:30 PM
7. December 22: Game 6 at 2:30 PM
8. December 23: Three Rapid Games starting at 2:30 PM 30 minutes rest after each game
9. December 24. Three Rapid games starting at 2:30 PM 30 minutes rest after each game.
10. December 25 Six Blitz games starting at 2:30 PM. 15 minutes rest after every game.
11. Closing ceremony at 6:30 PM on 25th evening.
Time control:
1. For the first six Classical games we will go by the FIDE time control. 90 minutes for the entire game with a 30 seconds increment after every move.
2. Rapid games will be played with 25 minutes each with a 10 seconds increment after every move.
3. Blitz games will be played with 5 minutes for the entire game with a 5 seconds increment after every move.
If the match is drawn: In case of a 9-9 tie after 18 games the players will play a sudden death blitz games where white gets six minutes against black five minutes (No increment) and white will have to win (Armageddon). The cash prize in this case will be shared and the final game will only be for the winner’s trophy.
Here is the official website. 
What is amazing about these kind of stories is how Asians are coming on strong in chess.
The little guy is 13. He has a mustache. Did he use some kind of cream or kinda cut em a lot of times to increase the growing rate? Or are Indian kids get these as soon as they hit puberty?
It is scientificaly proven
that cutting a mustache doesn’t increase their growing rate.
The little guy is more likely a 15 year old,but who will know the year of his birth preceisely in India’s Jungle!
🙂
She doesn’t look 16 either!! She looks more like …umm… 35 or so.
At least in these pictures…
Lahno is so sweet…her hairdo makes her look way beyond her years. I guess Negi had to come up with a counter or something =D
“World’s youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi, 13, will play against World’s youngest Girl Grandmaster and reigning European Women’s champion Kateryna Lahno, 16, of Ukraine in ‘The Amity Grandmasters Challenge’ to be held in New Delhi from 17-25 December 2006.”
I’m pretty sure what a “Grandmaster” is. And while a “female Grandmaster” could be either a real Grandmaster, a GM, or a WGM, I haven’t the foggiest idea what the “World’s youngest Girl Grandmaster” means. Anyone have an idea?
What a great picture! Thanks for posting this story Susan.
Gregory
Anon #5, I think it means the current youngest female who has fulfilled the requirements for the GM title (not WGM which she got many years ago).
Regards,
Anon#6
anonymous # 3 : I hope atleast u know more about your barbaric land than India …..
Anony # 2 : Studies has proven that Asians( excluding the orients like Chinese ,Japanese) tend to reach puberty faster than any other race in the world. Likewise, they will look older quicker than the others….
I think they are doing a great job with the promotion of these kids in a match which will attract thousands of viewers. I am told that the playchess.com attracted a lot of traffic for Game one on Sunday. Kudos to the organisers and the kids!!!
Hats off to Susan as well for carrying this story on her blog. I rate Susan as one of the most positive persons in the chess fraternity and she has singlehandedly increased the importance given to chess in the United States. Please keep it up Susan you are doing a fantastic job!
the guy looks sharp looks as though he has a bright future, looks however as old as 15 years, looks as if he shaves his moustache
indian boys grow moustache pretty early in age like the one parimarjan negi sports in this picture, makes him look more mature and charming
At 13 years parimarjan sports a thick moustache. Seems to be shaving too, wonder when he had attained puberty, Does he suffer from precocious puberty?
negi is a cute little kid with a wonderful moustache. seems to be a rising sensation from india. lahno seems to be a stubborn lady
cute little negi alert eyes
well dressed, clean shaven, sporting a tiny moustache which adds to his charm. seems to be shy by nature