The XO Directory

At the age of 16, David Wei Liang Howell became UK's youngest chess grandmaster. Born on November 14, 1990, and now 18 years old, Howell earned the title when he came second during the 35th Rilton Cup in Stockholm on January 2007. The record was previously held by Luke McShane who was six months older when he became a grandmaster.

Howell has been playing chess since the age of five years and eight months, after his father bought a second-hand chess set. He quickly learned and defeated his father and soon came to the attention of the Sussex Junior Chess Association, where he received tuition from a number of established county players. He progressed rapidly and became the British Under-8, Under-9 and Under-10 chess champion.

In August 1999, Howell became famous internationally when he broke the world record for the youngest player to have defeated a Grandmaster in an official game. He defeated GM John Nunn in a blitz game at the Mind Sports Olympiad. David still holds this record. He is also the youngest player in the world to have qualified to compete in a national chess championship, taking part in the British Chess Championship in August 2000. He came fourth in the Player of the Year ballot held by the British Chess Federation during 2000.

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