Agony, ecstasy and the sweet reward

Ray Robson GM
by IM Malcolm Pein
Tuesday 20th October 2009

There was agony and ecstasy in the last round of the SPICE international organised by Susan Polgar at her chess school in Texas.

Attention was focused on the attempt by Ray Robson, 14, to become the youngest ever American GM. Robson needed 2/2 and won nicely, see below, in his penultimate game after which he needed to defeat Daniel Rensch, the lowest rated player in the tournament.

To add a little spice to the encounter, Rensch, who had been a promising junior player before a long illness need to draw to secure the International Master title and it was Rensch who achieved his aim.

However at his next tournament, the Pan American Junior Championship in Montevideo, Robson was a comfortable winner and in doing so scored his third and final GM result at 14 years, eleven months and sixteen days.

This is younger than both Hikaru Nakamura and Bobby Fischer although, it must be emphasised, in Fischer’s day it was far harder to become a Grandmaster.

Here is the link to the game analysis.