Bobby Cheng

Bobby Cheng

Bobby Cheng in 2010
Country  Australia
Born 20 March 1997
Auckland, New Zealand
Title International Master
World Champion 2009 Under 12
FIDE rating 2419 (May 2015) 2352
Peak rating 2377 (Jan 2013)

Bobby Cheng (born 20 March 1997 in Auckland, New Zealand) is an Australian chess champion, former U12 World Champion and two-time Australian Junior Player of the Year.

Biography

Cheng came to public attention at age eight when he was singled out in 2005 for praise by British grandmaster Nigel Short.[1] Born in New Zealand, his trainers were Bruce Wheeler and Ewen Green,.[2] He finished tied for third in the World U/10 Championships in 2007, the year he and his family moved to Melbourne.[3] Cheng is best known for being Australia's first Under-12 World Chess Champion, a title he won in 2009 in Kemer, Turkey.[4][5] Cheng won the Australian Junior Championships in January 2010 at age 12, the youngest player ever to do so, won the same title again in 2011, and was awarded the title of Australian Junior Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010.[6] In 2011 Cheng became the youngest ever winner of the Victorian Championship title, finishing ahead of Grandmaster Darryl Johansen. In 2012 at 14 Cheng tied for the Australian Masters title, though this was not a new age record as he was tied with 11-year-old Anton Smirnov. In January 2013 Cheng won the Australian Open Championship, the youngest player ever to do so.[7] This result also secured Cheng the International Master title.

References

  1. ↑ Kiong, Errol (5 December 2005). "Small fry share big chess talent". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "New world chess champ got start in NZ". nzherald.co.nz. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Cheng, Bobby; Cordover, David (8 December 2009). "World U12 Chess Champion, Bobby Cheng reports …". chesskids.com.au. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Stuart, Hamish (23 November 2009). "Aussie, 12, crowned world chess champion.". 9News. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Hohenboken, Angus (24 November 2009). "Student takes nation's first world chess title". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Australian Junior Player of the Year". auschess.org.au. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "Bobby Cheng is the new Australian Champion". chessvibes.com. Retrieved 15 January 2013.

External links