Vinay Bhat
Encyclopedia
Vinay Bhat is an American chess
Grandmaster. Bhat earned his third Grandmaster norm
in July 2007 at the age of 23, though he did not obtain the Grandmaster title immediately due to rating requirements. Bhat ultimately earned the Grandmaster title in October 2008. On the March 2010 rating list, he had an ELO rating of 2549, ranking him 435th in the world and 21st in the United States amongst active players. http://ratings.fide.com/download.phtml
history. He won Game of the Week for the week of September 3, 2007.
On April 22, 2008, it was announced that Vinay was awarded the 2008 Samford Fellowship. This fellowship was created to "identify and assist the best American chessmasters under the age of twenty-five by providing top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials."
Bhat has studied with GM Gregory Kaidanov
.
every Thursday night. Bhat spent his early years studying the games of Morphy and Capablanca as a part of the Blue Knights. "That was my steady diet," Bhat said.
At 10 years and 176 days old, Bhat became the youngest national master, breaking the record previously held by Jordy Mont-Reynaud
(10 years and 294 days), Stuart Rachels
(11 years and 10 months), and before that by Bobby Fischer
(age 13). Since then, his record has been broken three times, by California players Hikaru Nakamura
, Nicholas Nip
, and Samuel Sevian . In 1998, at age 14, Bhat co-wrote "Whiz Kids Teach Chess" (ISBN 1580420079) with Eric Schiller
.
At the age of 15 years and 10 months, Bhat became an International Master, at the time the youngest ever in U.S. history; this record was later surpassed by Hikaru Nakamura
and is presently held by Ray Robson
.
in San Jose, CA, in 2002. While at Lynbrook, he played on his school's chess team.
Instead of focusing solely on chess, Bhat chose to continue his education and received a B.S. in Statistics and Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley
in 2006. In 2004, while an undergraduate, Bhat co-founded the East Bay Chess Club.
, an economic consulting firm headquartered in Menlo Park, CA.
.
Bhat plays poker casually and has won a local tournament. He enjoys listening to hip-hop and Indian music and cites J-Live
, Gift of Gab
, Wu-Tang Clan
, and Nas
as among his favorite artists. Bhat has expressed that he found GZA
's 2005 album GrandMasters particularly interesting for its references to chess.
In his recreational time, Bhat enjoys playing tennis. His current tennis partner is Johnny Chen.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
Grandmaster. Bhat earned his third Grandmaster norm
Grandmaster norm
A norm in chess is one of the requirements to receive a title such as Grandmaster from FIDE.- Grandmaster norm :In order to qualify for the title of Grandmaster of chess, a title awarded by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, a player must achieve three or more grandmaster norms in events covering a...
in July 2007 at the age of 23, though he did not obtain the Grandmaster title immediately due to rating requirements. Bhat ultimately earned the Grandmaster title in October 2008. On the March 2010 rating list, he had an ELO rating of 2549, ranking him 435th in the world and 21st in the United States amongst active players. http://ratings.fide.com/download.phtml
Chess achievements and status
Bhat is the 2007 MVP points leader and has the highest performance rating in the United States Chess LeagueUnited States Chess League
The United States Chess League is the only nation-wide chess league in the United States. It currently has sixteen teams, whose members include some of the highest-rated chess players in the United States...
history. He won Game of the Week for the week of September 3, 2007.
On April 22, 2008, it was announced that Vinay was awarded the 2008 Samford Fellowship. This fellowship was created to "identify and assist the best American chessmasters under the age of twenty-five by providing top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials."
Scholastic chess achievements
- 1992 California Primary School (K-3) State Champion (Tied with Jordy Mont-ReynaudJordy Mont-ReynaudJordy Mont-Reynaud became the youngest ever chess master in the United States when he became a master at the age of 10 years 209 days in 1994, a record surpassed by Vinay Bhat, and presently held by Samuel Sevian...
) - 1998-1999 California High School (K-12) State Champion
- 2001-2002 California High School (K-12) State Champion
Chess strategy and style
Bhat is known to prefer the following openings:| With the white pieces | With the black pieces |
|---|---|
| Sicilian (20) - B23 B52 B51 B27 B30 | Semi-Slav (9) - D43 D45 D48 |
| Queen's Pawn Game (4) - A45 | French Tarrasch (7) - C06 C05 C03 |
| Ruy Lopez (4) - C69 C68 C64 | Queen's Gambit Declined (5) - D30 D31 |
Bhat has studied with GM Gregory Kaidanov
Gregory Kaidanov
Gregory Kaidanov is a Grandmaster of chess.As of April 2007, his Elo rating was 2587, making him the #9 player in the US and the 179th-highest rated player in the world. His peak rating was 2646 in 2002....
.
Early years
Bhat first learned to play chess at the age of 6. His mother taught him and his older brother, Harish (now a professor at UC Merced system) how to play. The two brothers started playing in the Kolty Chess Club in CampbellCampbell
-Places:In Australia:* Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, AustraliaIn Canada:* Campbell, Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia* Campbell Road, Edmonton, AlbertaIn New Zealand:...
every Thursday night. Bhat spent his early years studying the games of Morphy and Capablanca as a part of the Blue Knights. "That was my steady diet," Bhat said.
At 10 years and 176 days old, Bhat became the youngest national master, breaking the record previously held by Jordy Mont-Reynaud
Jordy Mont-Reynaud
Jordy Mont-Reynaud became the youngest ever chess master in the United States when he became a master at the age of 10 years 209 days in 1994, a record surpassed by Vinay Bhat, and presently held by Samuel Sevian...
(10 years and 294 days), Stuart Rachels
Stuart Rachels
Stuart Rachels is an International Master of chess and the son of the philosopher James Rachels . He tied for first place in the 1989-90 U.S. Chess Championship. Although no longer an active player, his FIDE rating is 2485, and his USCF rating is 2605.Rachels grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He...
(11 years and 10 months), and before that by Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
(age 13). Since then, his record has been broken three times, by California players Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura is an American chess Grandmaster . He has been ranked among the top six players in the world by FIDE....
, Nicholas Nip
Nicholas Nip
Nicholas Nip is a United States Chess Federation National Master . In 2008, he became the youngest USCF Master in history, obtaining a rating of 2207 at the age of 9 years, 11 months and 26 days, a record that was surpassed in 2010 by Samuel Sevian.Nip's feat broke the record held for a decade...
, and Samuel Sevian . In 1998, at age 14, Bhat co-wrote "Whiz Kids Teach Chess" (ISBN 1580420079) with Eric Schiller
Eric Schiller
Eric Schiller is an American chess player, trainer, arbiter and one of the most prolific authors of books on chess in the 20th century.-Early life and education:...
.
At the age of 15 years and 10 months, Bhat became an International Master, at the time the youngest ever in U.S. history; this record was later surpassed by Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura
Hikaru Nakamura is an American chess Grandmaster . He has been ranked among the top six players in the world by FIDE....
and is presently held by Ray Robson
Ray Robson
Ray Robson is an American chess player who holds the title of Grandmaster. In October 2009, about two weeks before turning 15, he became the youngest grandmaster-elect in history who plays for the United States .Robson's norms were gained at the Arctic Chess...
.
Education
Bhat graduated from Lynbrook High SchoolLynbrook High School
Lynbrook High School is a co-educational, public, four-year secondary school located in the West San Jose neighborhood of San Jose, California, USA...
in San Jose, CA, in 2002. While at Lynbrook, he played on his school's chess team.
Instead of focusing solely on chess, Bhat chose to continue his education and received a B.S. in Statistics and Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 2006. In 2004, while an undergraduate, Bhat co-founded the East Bay Chess Club.
Career outside of chess
Until receiving the Samford Fellowship, Bhat was employed at Cornerstone ResearchCornerstone Research
Cornerstone Research is a financial, economic, and litigation consulting firm based in the United States. It provides expert testimony and economic and financial analysis to attorneys, corporations and government agencies involved in business litigation....
, an economic consulting firm headquartered in Menlo Park, CA.
Personal
Bhat currently resides south of San Francisco in Silicon ValleySilicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
.
Bhat plays poker casually and has won a local tournament. He enjoys listening to hip-hop and Indian music and cites J-Live
J-Live
J-Live is an MC, DJ, and producer from New York.-Early career and The Best Part:...
, Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab (rapper)
Gift of Gab is an American MC best known for performing in the Bay Area hip-hop duo Blackalicious with DJ Chief Xcel...
, Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
, and Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
as among his favorite artists. Bhat has expressed that he found GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
's 2005 album GrandMasters particularly interesting for its references to chess.
In his recreational time, Bhat enjoys playing tennis. His current tennis partner is Johnny Chen.
External links
- Vinay Bhat at USChessLeague.com
- "Whiz Kids Teach Chess," ISBN 1580420079
- Vinay Bhat's blog