Sergey Karjakin

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin (Russian: Серге́й Алекса́ндрович Каря́кин, Russian pronunciation: [sʲɪrˈɡʲej ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕ kɐˈrʲakʲɪn]; born 12 January 1990) is a Russian chess grandmaster (formerly representing Ukraine). A chess prodigy, he holds the record for the world's youngest ever grandmaster, having qualified for the title at the age of 12 years and 7 months.[1][2]

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Alexandrovich and the family name is Karjakin.
Sergey Karjakin
Karjakin in 2018
Full nameSergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
CountryUkraine (until 2009)
Russia (since 2009)
Born (1990-01-12) 12 January 1990
Simferopol, Crimean Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
TitleGrandmaster (2003)
FIDE rating2752 (August 2020)
Peak rating2788 (July 2011)
RankingNo. 17 (July 2020)
Peak rankingNo. 4 (July 2011)

Karjakin won the European U10 Chess Championship in 1999, and he was World U12 Chess Champion in 2001. He earned the international master title at age 11, and was awarded his grandmaster title in 2003. He represented Ukraine at the Chess Olympiad in 2004, winning team and individual gold. He competed in two more Chess Olympiads for Ukraine, and won the Corus chess tournament in 2009, before transferring to Russia. He has since represented Russia five times in the Chess Olympiad, winning individual gold in 2010. He also won team gold with Russia at the World Team Chess Championship in 2013[3] and 2019.

Karjakin won the 2012 World Rapid Chess Championship, and the Norway Chess tournament in 2013 and 2014. He competed at the Candidates Tournament 2014, placing second. He won the Chess World Cup 2015, thus qualifying for the Candidates Tournament 2016. He won the tournament and earned the right to challenge for the World Chess Championship. In November 2016, he lost the championship match to Magnus Carlsen in the rapid tiebreaks after drawing 6–6 in the classical games. He won the 2016 World Blitz Chess Championship. He participated in the candidates tournament again in 2018, placing third.

Prodigy

Karjakin learned to play chess when he was five years old.[4] He joined the A.V. Momot Club in Kramatorsk, Ukraine and was coached by Vladislav Borovikov,[5][6] becoming an International Master at age 11 years and 11 months. He won the U10 European championship in 1999, and the U12 world championship in 2001. Also in 2001, Karjakin tied for first place in the U14 European championship with Borki Predojević and Rauf Mamedov, taking the silver medal on tiebreak.[7] In January 2002, he was the official second of fellow Ukrainian Ruslan Ponomariov during the final of the FIDE World Championship, though Karjakin had only just turned 12 at the time.

By scoring grandmaster norms at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, Alushta tournament in May 2002 and Sudak in August 2002, he surpassed Bu Xiangzhi to become the world's youngest grandmaster at the age of 12 years 7 months - a record that still stands.

In 2003, Karjakin won a six-game match against Alexandra Kosteniuk ("Dannemann Classico") in Brissago by a score of 4–2,[8] and tied for second in the Ukrainian championship.[9]

He competed in the 2004 FIDE World Championship in Tripoli, where he lost in the first round to Mikhail Kobalia. Soon after, Karjakin took part in the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting. Here he defeated the reigning world champion, Vladimir Kramnik, in a blitz game. In October, Karjakin was the only human to win against a computer in the Man vs Machine World Team Championship in Bilbao, Spain, where he was the youngest and lowest rated player, beating Deep Junior. At the 36th Chess Olympiad in Calvià, he was the youngest member of the gold-medal winning Ukrainian team. He also won an individual gold medal thanks to his score of 6½/7 points playing the second reserve board.[10] In December 2004, Karjakin finished second to Boris Gelfand at the Pamplona tournament. In the following month, he won the Group B of the Corus Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, thus qualifying for the 2006 Group A.[11]

Karjakin entered the world's top 100 in the April 2005 FIDE list, at 64th with an Elo rating of 2635. He scored 8½/11 points (+7=3-1) to win the Young Stars of the World tournament held in Kirishi, Russia in May.[12] In July, he tied for third place in the European Individual Championship.[13]

Career

2006

In 2006, Karjakin played for the first time in the Wijk aan Zee Corus A tournament, scoring 7/13 points (4 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses).[14] In the same year he took part in the NH Chess Tournament in Amsterdam; it was a match between two teams, "Rising Stars" (made up of Karjakin, Magnus Carlsen, Wang Hao, Daniel Stellwagen, and Jan Smeets) and "Experience" (Alexander Beliavsky, Artur Yusupov, John Nunn, and Ulf Andersson), held with the Scheveningen system. The former won by 28–22.[15]

2007

Karjakin played again in this event in 2007 for the team "Rising Stars", which beat "Experience" by 26½-23½. He was the best player having scored 7/10 and this earned him an invitation for the 2008 Amber chess tournament.[16] In October 2007, Karjakin finished second to Bu Xiangzhi in the Blindfold Chess World Cup in Bilbao, scoring 17 points after five wins, two draws and three losses (the scoring system was 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss).[17]

During the Chess World Cup 2007, which served as a qualification tournament for the World Chess Championship 2010, Karjakin reached the semi-finals, in which he lost to Alexei Shirov. On the January 2008 FIDE rating list, published just before Karjakin's 18th birthday, he passed the 2700 mark for the first time, often seen as the line that separates "elite" players from other grandmasters, with a new rating of 2732 and a world rank of 13.

2008

In July 2008, Karjakin convincingly won a rapid chess match against GM Nigel Short 7½–2½.[18]

2009

In February 2009 he won his first elite tournament in the A group of the Corus chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee (category XIX) with a score of 8/13.

2010

He won the ACP World Rapid Cup which was conducted from 27 May to 29 May 2010, defeating Dmitry Jakovenko in the final by 4–3.[19]

2011

The next year, Karjakin shared first place (second on tiebreak) with Magnus Carlsen at the Bazna Kings Tournament and third place with Vassily Ivanchuk and Ian Nepomniachtchi in the category 22 Tal Memorial in Moscow.[20][21]

2012: World Rapid Champion

In July 2012, Karjakin won the World Rapid Chess Championship a full point ahead of world number one Magnus Carlsen in Astana, Kazakhstan.[22] In the same month, he also tied for first at Dortmund with Fabiano Caruana but came in second after tiebreak.[23]

In Nov-Dec 2012, Karjakin shared first place with Wang Hao and Alexander Morozevich with 6½/9 in the FIDE Grand Prix event held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

2013

In May, he won the inaugural edition of Norway Chess, scoring 6½/9 (+6−2=1), half a point ahead of Carlsen.

2014

In March 2014, he finished in second place in the FIDE Candidates Tournament held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, behind Viswanathan Anand. His second at the event was former FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov.[24]

In June 2014, Karjakin won the Norway Chess tournament for the second year running. In this tournament he competed against nine other players, six of which were rated in the FIDE top 10.

2015

Karjakin won the Chess World Cup 2015 in dramatic fashion after going down 0-2 to former World Cup Champion Peter Svidler, eventually winning 6-4 in blitz tiebreaks. By finishing in the final two, Karjakin qualified, along with Svidler, for the 2016 Candidates Tournament.

In the same year, he took part in the Russia-China Challenge Match. The first part of the event took place from 29 July to 1 August in the Heixiazi Island, where Karjakin sequentially knocked out four of the five members of the Chinese team: Wei Yi, Ding Liren, Ni Hua and Yu Yangyi.[25][26] In the second half of the event, which was held in Harbin in December, he defeated also Wang Yue, leading team Russia to victory.[27]

2016: Candidates winner and World Blitz Champion

In March 2016, Karjakin won the 2016 Candidates Tournament in Moscow and qualified to play a match against Magnus Carlsen for the title of World Chess Champion. He defeated Fabiano Caruana in the last round of the tournament to finish with 8½ out of 14, one point ahead of Caruana and Anand.

The World Chess Championship 2016 took place from 11–30 November 2016 in New York City. The format was a match consisting of a maximum of twelve games played under a long classical time control, ending with possible speed chess tiebreak games and an Armageddon game to ensure a winner. Karjakin's record against Carlsen in classical games before the World Championship was: 1 win, 4 losses, and 16 draws.[28] Karjakin won the eighth game,[29][30][31] but lost the tenth, leaving the match tied 6-6. Carlsen defeated Karjakin 3-1 in the rapidplay tiebreaks, and won the match.[32][33]

Karjakin won the 2016 World Blitz Chess Championship, which took place over 29 and 30 December 2016. Before the last round, Carlsen was leading with 16.0/20 while Karjakin was half a point behind. In the last round Carlsen drew with Peter Leko while Karjakin won against Baadur Jobava. Thus, they both finished the tournament with 16½/21. The tie-break (the Elo average of the opponents) was used to decide the winner, and as Karjakin's opponents had the better average, Karjakin was crowned 2016 World Blitz Champion.[34][35] The extent of their domination in the event is shown by the fact that their closest rivals, Daniil Dubov, Hikaru Nakamura and Alexander Grischuk (three-time world blitz champion), were full two points behind.[36]

2017

In December, he participated in the London Chess Classic, placing eighth with a score of 3½/9.

2018

In January, Karjakin competed in the Tata Steel Masters. He placed seventh, scoring 7½/13 (+2−0=11).

In March, he competed in the Candidates Tournament 2018. He finished third with 8/14 (+4−2=8), one point behind the winner Caruana.

In April, he participated in the fifth edition of Shamkir Chess, finishing third with a score of 5/9 (+1−0=8).[37]

From 28 May to 7 June, he competed in the sixth edition of Norway Chess, finishing last with 3/8 (+1−3=4).[38]


2019

From 31st March to 9th April, he competed in Shamkir Chess 2019. He placed in a tie for second, with five points out of nine.

Rapid and blitz rankings

In addition to his strength in classical time controls, Karjakin is very skilled at rapid and blitz chess. Karjakin won the 2012 World Rapid Chess Championship. As of June 2019, Sergey ranked 19th on the FIDE rapid list[39] and 6th on the blitz list.[40]

Playing style

Karjakin is known for his defensive skills, which has earned him an informal nickname as Russia's "Minister of Defense".[41][42] He successfully defended inferior positions against World Champion Magnus Carlsen – himself known for grinding out wins from slightly superior positions – in the World Chess Championship 2016, especially games 3 and 4. Karjakin has no qualms about entering an endgame with a small disadvantage if he deems it his best option,[43] as opposed to playing for complications. He is, however, also capable of aggressive play if the position demands it, such as in a 30-move victory over Veselin Topalov at the Gashimov Memorial 2017.[44]

Personal life
Karyakin (right) with Vladimir Putin in 2017

Karjakin married Galiya Kamalova, secretary of the Moscow chess federation, in May 2014.[45] They have two sons, one born in late 2015 and the other born in 2017.[46] He was previously married since 2009 to Ukrainian chess player Kateryna Dolzhikova.[47]

On 25 July 2009, by the decree of the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev,[48] Karjakin adopted Russian citizenship.[49][50] Later that year he transferred chess federations from Ukraine to Russia,[51] in order to get sponsorship and better coaching. He has lived in Moscow since 2009.[52] An ethnic Russian,[53][54] Karjakin considers himself Russian rather than Ukrainian, and supports the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea (from Ukraine) and Vladimir Putin.[52] He is Orthodox Christian.[55]

In 2013 he graduated from the Russian State Social University with a degree in social pedagogy.[56]

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References
  1. "Record-breaking mini-grandmaster?". ChessBase. 16 May 2002.
  2. "Sergey Karjakin: The Ultimate Prodigy". Chess24.com. 26 May 2020.
  3. "World Team 09 Russia takes gold; China silver". ChessBase. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  4. "Sergey Karjakin vs. Alexandra Kosteniuk - How to be a GM Series". Chess Videos, Chess DVDs, Chess Software and more. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  5. "Chess for All Ages: Karjakin's Early Games". chessforallages.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. Pein, Malcolm. "Beauty and brains line up at Hastings". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. C.to Europeo U14. LOTO - Lost Tournaments. Italian Chess Federation. (in Italian)
  8. "Sergey Karjakin (13) beats women's vice champion". ChessBase. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  9. Tournament report January 2004. UKR Champ.Men 2003. FIDE.
  10. "OlimpBase :: Men's Chess Olympiads :: Sergei Karjakin". www.olimpbase.org. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  11. "Corus 13: Peter Leko wins Wijk aan Zee 2005". ChessBase. 31 January 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  12. Misha Savinov (2005-05-31), "Sergey Karjakin, the Wizard of Kirishi", ChessBase
  13. Crowther, Mark (4 July 2005). "TWIC 556: 6th European Individual Chess Championship". The Week in Chess. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  14. "Corus R13: Anand and Topalov win Wijk". 30 January 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  15. "Amsterdam: Rising Stars beat Experience 28-22". ChessBase. 30 August 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  16. "NH Tournament: Rising Stars beat Experience Grandmasters 26½-23½". ChessBase. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  17. "Bu Xiangzhi wins Blindfold Chess World Cup in Bilbao". ChessBase. 21 October 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  18. Kiev Life Rapid: Karjakin beat Short 7½:2½, Chessbase, 7 August 2008
  19. Karjakin wins ACP World Rapid Cup, Chessbase, 29 May 2010
  20. "Medias Kings Rd10: Carlsen-Karjakin draw, Carlsen wins Medias 2011". ChessBase. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  21. "Carlsen catches Aronian in last round, wins Tal Memorial on tiebreak". ChessVibes. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  22. "Karjakin wins the Astana World Rapid Chess Championship". Chessbase.com. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  23. "Fabiano Caruana takes the trophy in Dortmund". Chessdom.com. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  24. "Not Svidler's day - Candidates Tournament 2014". candidates2014.fide.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  25. Fischer, Johannes (1 August 2015). "China vs Russia: Yu Yangyi cannot stop Karjakin". Chess News. ChessBase. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  26. McGourty, Colin (2 August 2015). "Karjakin's one-man army beats China". chess24.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  27. "Sergey Karjakin Finishes Off Team China". Russian Chess Federation. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  28. "Magnus Carlsen vs. Sergey Karjakinwebsite=chessgames.com". Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  29. "Karjakin wins with Black! Game 8 with notes by Fabiano Caruana". Chess News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  30. McClain, Dylan, Loeb (22 November 2016). "World Ch., Game 8: Karjakin Wins and Seizes Lead". World Chess. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  31. McGourty, Colin (22 November 2016). "Carlsen-Karjakin, Game 8: Sergey stuns Magnus". chess24.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  32. "Carlsen wins tie-break and remains World Champion!". Chess News. ChessBase. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  33. "Magnus Carlsen is World Chess Champion 2016!". Chessdom. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  34. "Carlsen and Karjakin dominate Blitz World Championship".
  35. "Sergey Karjakin is new World Champion in Blitz Chess".
  36. "Karjakin wins FIDE World Blitz Championship, double gold for Anna Muzychuk".
  37. Staff writer(s) (28 April 2018). "Results: Cross Table". Shamkir Chess.
  38. Doggers, Peter (7 June 2018). "Caruana Wins Norway Chess". Chess.com.
  39. https://ratings.fide.com/top.phtml?list=men_rapid
  40. https://ratings.fide.com/top.phtml?list=men_blitz
  41. "Will Karjakin become Russia's Minister of Defense?". chess-teacher.com.
  42. "Norwegian Chess Champ Carlsen Risks Fine for Being a Sore Loser". Sputnik International.
  43. "Norway Chess Round 8: Carlsen defeats Karjakin". Chessbase. 15 June 2017.
  44. "Gashimov Memorial 2017: Crushing wins". Chessbase. 26 April 2017.
  45. Sergey Karjakin Married Archived 9 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Newsaboutchess.com 20 May 2014
  46. https://rsport.ria.ru/chess/20170731/1123601519.html
  47. "Sergey Karjakin and Kateryna Dolzhikova get married". Chessdom.com. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  48. Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 25 июля 2009 года № 856 Archived 4 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  49. Karjakin to Play for Russia, Chess.com, 1 August 2009
  50. Sergey Karjakin takes Russian citizenship, Chessdom.com. Retrieved on 2009-08-01.
  51. Player transfers in 2009. FIDE.
  52. "Russia's Patriotic Chess Star From Crimea Sets His Sights On World Title". Radio Free Europe. (30 March 2016)
  53. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/29/the-guardian-view-on-world-chess-rivalries-no-return-to-the-cold-war
  54. http://www.chessvibes.com/?q=reports/sergei-karjakin-i-need-to-train-with-good-coaches
  55. "KC-конференция с Сергеем Карякиным". Crestbook.com. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  56. Сергей Карякин: "Я без шахмат жить не могу" [Sergey Karjakin: "I can't live without chess"] (in Russian). Chesswood.ru. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
Achievements
Preceded by
Bu Xiangzhi		 Youngest chess grandmaster ever
2002–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Gata Kamsky		 World Rapid Chess Champion
2012		 Succeeded by
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Preceded by
Alexander Grischuk		 World Blitz Chess Champion
2016		 Succeeded by
Magnus Carlsen
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