Montrealer Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux was able to win the title of Grandmaster (GM) in chess, becoming the fifth Quebecer in history to obtain this distinction which constitutes the highest title awarded to chess players across the world. the world.
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The Quebecer was able to achieve his third and final prerequisite, called “norm”, in order to become Grandmaster during the Swiss FIDE Grand Prix tournament in l’Isle which ends on November 5.
This “standard” is granted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) when a player stands out during a tournament by beating a certain number of high-level opponents and Grandmasters.
Ranked 109th seed out of 114 players before the start of the tournament, Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux was able to win three matches and draw four matches in 10 games to rank 56th, with one match remaining. Sunday.
He is the youngest Quebecer in history to obtain the title of Grandmaster.
Screenshot | TVA News
For the general director of the Quebec chess federation, Richard Bérubé, this is a new step in his meteoric progress in recent years, which could eventually propel him into the world elite.
“Being a Grandmaster before the age of 20 is something exceptional,” he said in an interview with TVANouvelles.ca. It shows that he is on a good run. […] but he has even bigger goals. He wants to eventually be part of the top 20 in the world.”
Mr. Bérubé hopes that the Montrealer’s performances can inspire others and increase the popularity of this discipline in the province.
“It takes spark plugs,” he says. In hockey for example, there was Maurice Richard who inspired many. It could bring an influence that would be welcome.
Rodrique-Lemieux notably won the World Under-18 Championship last year.
At the end of 2022, the young Montrealer notably drew against Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, ranked 4th best player in the world.
He will officially receive his Grandmaster title at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Congress later in 2023.