⁠Top five youngest chess grandmasters in history

Abhimanyu Mishra is the youngest chess grandmaster in history.

Becoming a chess grandmaster is one of the toughest milestones in the game. It means earning three world-class “norms” in top-level tournaments and crossing a 2500 FIDE rating, all under intense competition. Most players, even the greats, take years to achieve this feat.

Modern chess legend and former world champion Magnus Carlsen achieved this feat at the age of 13 years and 4 months, making him the 9th youngest grandmaster of all time. It was an astonishing feat at the time.

But in recent years, a new wave of prodigies has pushed the boundaries even further, some claiming the title before their 13th birthday. Here’s a look at the five youngest chess grandmasters in history and how they rewrote the record books.

5. Javokhir Sindarov

Javokhir Sindarov, born December 8, 2005, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, became the second-youngest grandmaster of all time in October 2018 at 12 years, 10 months, and 5 days.

A dynamic and uncompromising player, Sindarov has taken down some of the world’s elite, including Alireza Firouzja at the 2021 World Cup and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave at the 2023 edition.

His consistent results in prestigious competitions such as the Asian Games, Qatar Masters, and FIDE Grand Swiss have helped him surpass the 2700 rating barrier in late 2023. By August 2025, he has reached a career-high 2722, ranking 25th in the world.

4. Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş

Born on June 3, 2011, Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş is Turkey’s brightest young chess star and currently the fourth youngest grandmaster in the world. He learned the game at six, and by 2019 had already claimed the European Under-8 Championship with a flawless score.

He earned his International Master title in 2022 and, in April 2024, became the fourth-youngest GM in history at 12 years, 9 months, 29 days.

That same year, he broke Judit Polgár’s decades-old record for the highest rating by a player under 13 and became the youngest ever to cross the 2600 mark. By the age of 14 in July 2025, Erdoğmuş had broken into the world’s top 100 players.

3. Gukesh Dommaraju

India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, born on May 29, 2006, is not only one of the youngest grandmasters ever but also the reigning World Chess Champion. He achieved the GM title at the age of 12 years, 7 months, and 17 days, having learnt the sport at the age of seven.

Gukesh’s meteoric rise continued as he became the youngest player to surpass the 2750 rating mark (at 17) and the youngest undisputed world champion (at 18).

His achievements include multiple youth titles, Olympiad gold medals, victory in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, and a stunning triumph over Ding Liren to claim the world crown.

2. Sergey Karjakin

Sergey Karjakin held the “youngest grandmaster” record for nearly 19 years. Born in Simferopol, Ukraine, in 1990, he reached the title in August 2002 at the age of 12 years and 7 months. Karjakin’s immense talent was evident early on as he even served as a second to then-FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov while still 12.

Known for his incredible defensive skills, Karjakin reached the pinnacle of his career in 2016, when he came within a whisker of dethroning Magnus Carlsen in the World Championship match, only losing in the rapid tiebreaks.

1. Abhimanyu Mishra

Abhimanyu Mishra, born on February 5, 2009, in the United States, is the current holder of the record for the youngest chess grandmaster in history. He achieved the title in June 2021 at the age of 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, surpassing the long-standing milestone set by Sergey Karjakin.

Before that, he had already made headlines as both the youngest American to cross a 2000 USCF rating and the youngest International Master ever. His path to the GM title included a string of impressive results in Budapest norm events.

Since then, Mishra has continued competing at a high level, winning the 2023 US Junior Championship, finishing second at TePe Sigeman & Co., and participating in elite tournaments such as the FIDE Grand Swiss.

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