Alireza Firouzja

Alireza Firouzja is an Iranian-born French chess grandmaster, born on June 18, 2003, in Babol, Iran. He is widely regarded as one of the brightest prodigies in the chess world. Firouzja began his professional career in Iran, becoming the second youngest grandmaster in history at the age of 14.

Firouzja is known for his aggressive style, tactical acumen, and deep understanding of complex positions. He has won several high-profile tournaments and holds multiple records, such as the youngest player to cross the 2700 Elo rating mark.

Off the board, Firouzja is also recognized for his perseverance, having faced numerous challenges in his career, including changing his federation allegiance from Iran to France.

Early Career in Iran

• Born and raised in Iran, Firouzja showed prodigious talent from a young age. He clinched the Iranian championship at age 12 and became a grandmaster at age 14.

International Recognition

• Firouzja gained international recognition when he won the 2019 Aeroflot Open, which qualified him for the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting. His performances at these high-level tournaments established him as a force to be reckoned with in international chess.

Federation Change to France

• In 2020, Firouzja changed his federation allegiance from Iran to France. This was a significant decision that allowed him to compete under the French flag and avoid restrictions imposed by Iran's chess federation.

Rise to Elite Status

• Despite being one of the youngest players in the elite circuit, Firouzja has consistently performed at a high level, defeating several top-ranked players and winning prestigious tournaments such as the 2020 Banter Blitz Cup and the 2021 Tata Steel Masters.

World Junior Chess Championship

• Runner-Up: Firouzja was the runner-up in the 2019 World Junior Chess Championship, narrowly missing out on the title.

Olympiad

• Firouzja represented Iran in the 2018 Chess Olympiad, helping the team to a 10th place finish, their best ever result.

• Playing Style: Firouzja is known for his aggressive, tactical style. He is comfortable in complex positions and often seeks to create imbalances on the board.
• Strengths: Firouzja's strengths include his deep opening preparation, tactical vision, and endgame skill. His bold, uncompromising style often puts his opponents under pressure.

• Family: Firouzja was born into a family of chess players. His father introduced him to the game at a young age.
• Residence: Firouzja currently resides in France, where he continues his professional chess career.

• Alireza Firouzja is celebrated for his extraordinary talent and his rapid rise in the chess world. His aggressive style and tactical brilliance have earned him a place among the elite of modern chess. His perseverance and determination to overcome challenges serve as an inspiration to many young chess players around the world.

Youngest Player to cross 2700 Elo:

• Firouzja achieved an Elo rating of 2700 at the age of 16 years and 1 month, becoming the youngest player in history to cross this milestone.

Winner of Prestigious Tournaments:

• Firouzja has won several high-profile tournaments, including the 2019 Aeroflot Open and the 2021 Tata Steel Masters.

Books

• Donaldson, J. (2020) Alireza Firouzja: A Future World Champion. New in Chess.

Websites

• FIDE: Information about Alireza Firouzja’s career and achievements. Available at: https://www.fide.com
• Chess.com: Details about Firouzja’s games and performances. Available at: https://www.chess.com

Articles

• ChessBase: Alireza Firouzja: A rising star. Available at: https://en.chessbase.com/post/alireza-firouzja-a-rising-star
• The Guardian: Alireza Firouzja: Iran’s chess prodigy makes French move. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/31/alireza-firouzja-iran-chess-prodigy-makes-french-move