Nine-year-old Ethan Pang has made headlines again after defeating three grandmasters at the Vezerkepto IM tournament in Budapest. Pang, who recently set a record as the youngest player to achieve a 2200 master rating, showcased impressive skill despite facing older and experienced opponents.
In round two, he overcame Slovakian Milan Pacher, followed by a victory against Hungary’s Attila Czebe in round four. Finally, he beat Zoltan Varga, also from Hungary, in round five. Despite the achievement, Pang fell short of reaching the 2300 rating necessary to claim the FIDE Master title after a missed opportunity against Alana Kolagatia.
Pang ended the tournament with a score of 4.5 out of 8 and plans to participate in more competitions to enhance his skills. His chess inspirations include Mikhail Tal and Hikaru Nakamura. Pang’s recent matches solidify his standing as a rising star in chess, currently rated 2292 by FIDE.