14-year-old Bayastan Sydykov makes sensation at Chess Tournament

14-year-old Bayastan Sydykov from Kyrgyzstan has achieved his second International Master norm. The Kyrgyz Chess Union reported.

At the prestigious Sparkassen Chess Trophy 2025 A-Open, which took place in Dortmund, Germany, the young representative of Kyrgyzstan scored 6 points out of 9 possible, achieved a performance rating of 2459, and gained 35 rating points. Bayastan’s current live rating now stands at 2357.

He took 22^nd place among 196 participants with a record of 4 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss.

Bayastan Sydykov became a sensation at the tournament — he defeated the legendary grandmaster and 1989 Soviet Union Chess Champion Rafael Vaganian.

He now needs just +43 rating points and one more norm to officially become an International Master.