Culture | The sports page
The sport in which nine-year-old prodigies are world-beaters
Stars of many sports are getting older. Not so chess
THE GRANDMASTER sits at the pinnacle of chess. The title evokes excellence and experience, a garland for someone who has mastered the game and all its many intricacies. The term was first used in 1838 to describe a British player, William Lewis, after many years of success. He was 51. Today top talents are recognised at far younger ages.
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