Iran’s newest GM

The Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) or World Chess Federation has awarded the Grandmaster title to junior Iranian chess player Parham Maqsoudlou over his commendable performance at the World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad 2016 in Slovakia.

The 16-year-old Iranian athlete earned the title during the 87th FIDE Congress at the Fairmont Hotel in the Azerbaijani capital city of Baku, the Islamic Republic of Iran Chess Federation website reported on Sunday.

On July 29,  Iran’s national cadet chess team, comprised of 12-year-old Alireza Firouzja, Maqsoudlou and Arash Tahbaz, prevailed over the Romanian side by 2.5 points to 1.5 in the final round of the event at Arena Poprad in the northern city of Poprad.

Firouzja and Tahbaz achieved convincing victories over their Roman counterparts in their final showdowns, while the game between Maqsoudlou and his Central European rival ended in a tie.

Iran’s national cadet chess team garnered 17 points out of nine rounds to stand atop the podium.

The Persians were followed by Russians in the second spot with 15 points. Armenians claimed the third place, having chalked up 14 points.

The World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad 2016 started in Poprad on July 21 and finished on July 30. It was held under the supervision of the FIDE, and used the Swiss system for pairings.