Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen evaluated the future of eight-year-old Russian chess player Roman Shogdzhiev at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship held in Samarkand. His words are quoted NRK.
The 33-year-old Norwegian expressed the opinion that Shogjiev plays like an adult and at a very high level. “To become such a good player at the age of eight is quite extraordinary. Maybe we will see him at the top,” Carlsen said.
The Russians defeated 28-year-old Chess Olympiad champion Jahongir Vakhidov from Uzbekistan on the first day, and 25-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Johan-Sebastian Christiansen the next day.
A total of 60 Russians are participating in the World Rapid and Blitz Championship. The total prize fund is $1 million. Last year Magnus Carlsen won both world championships.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has decided to deprive Russian and Belarusian chess players of the right to compete in tournaments under the flag and anthem of their countries in 2022. Chess players will be able to participate in competitions under the flags of the Russian Chess Federation (RFC) / Belarusian Chess Federation (BCF) or FIDE.
The FIDE Council had previously allowed the FCR to move from the European Chess Union to the Asian Chess Federation.
Previously Carlsen in the name The best chess player in history.