Is chess now a game for the young?

Sebastian Santiago

Don’t look now, but five of the top six finishers in the recently-concluded 77th Tata Steel Masters tournament in Wijk an Zee, The Netherlands are all below 24 years old.

If at all, according to experts, this could be an indication that the so-called King’s game is indeed becoming to be a playground of the young.

A case in point is the reigning world champion himself, Magnus Carlsen of Norway who is only 24 years old. Carlsen topped the strong grandmasters tourney with nine points.

Our very own Wesley So, who is only 21 years old, finished tied for second half a point behind Carlsen.

Tied with So at No. 2 were French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Dutch GM Anish Giri and Chinese GM Ding Liren, who are aged 24, 20 and 22 years old, respectively.

Italian GM Fabiano Caruana, the world’s second highest rated woodpusher who ended up at No. 6, is also 22.

Here in the Philippines, three of the top four highest-ranked chessers are just 29 years old—GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, GM Oliver Barbosa and GM John Paul Gomez.

Fast-rising International Masters Haridas Pascua (21), Paulo Bersamina (16) and Jan Emmanuel Garcia (19) are in the top 20.

Many are of the belief that the growing trend of young players crowding the top could be attributed to the advent of technology.

Computers and internet, they say help a lot in studying and analyzing games and openings unlike in the past when players had to train with piles and piles of books.

“Practically all kids today have easy access to internet and computers where chess programs and games are aplenty,” said Asia’s first grandmaster who at 63, still represents the country in international competitions.

Eugene Torre used to be the country’s strongest player but has skidded to No. 11 in the Philippine rankings in the wake of the onslaught of young good players.

“During our time, we can only study through books and play with our fellow masters abroad, which is harder for us,” he added.

Torre, however, stressed that although technology helps, talent remains the primary ingredient for success.

“Of course, talent is still the most important thing. Technology only harnesses it faster than usual,” he said.