Issue #47 — Abhimanyu Mishra

About This Issue

In this special feature we spotlight the chess “Dirty Dozen” – twelve players throughout history who rose to cult status thanks to their original and creative play. Our cover hero, 16-year-old GM Abhimanyu Mishra from New Jersey, has become the youngest ever player to defeat the World Champion in a classical game.

In an exclusive article, the world’s youngest-ever GM, Abhimanyu Mishra, annotates his memorable victory over Gukesh from the recently concluded FIDE Grand Swiss, along with a couple of notable games from his last two tournaments, during which he impressively remained undefeated across 20 consecutive games in just 22 days(!). In the accompanying interview, Mishra reflects on his rapid rise toward the world elite, discussing both the challenges he has overcome and those that still lie ahead.

Also from the FIDE Grand Swiss, IM Grayson Rorrer reports on the remarkable performances of five American prodigies – Mishra, Niemann, Liang, Woodward and Sevian – who all finished just a point out of first place. With highlights from their play in Samarkand, Grayson analyzes the performances of this new wave of U.S. talents, who appear poised to take over the American chess scene in the near future.

Our special feature celebrates twelve world-class players whose styles can best be described as imaginative, inventive and unconventional. Presented through a selection of their most striking games, their original solutions often left opponents struggling to meet the challenges posed over the board, while their creative ideas have greatly enriched modern opening theory. Widely admired by fans and fellow players alike, these chess artists – Duncan Suttles, Albin Planinc, David Bronstein, Henrique Mecking, Baadur Jobava, Richard Rapport, Alexei Shirov, Bent Larsen, Alexander Morozevich, Anthony Miles, Vasyl Ivanchuk and Hikaru Nakamura – have rightfully earned their reputation among the rebels, the mavericks and the originals.

17-year-old WGM Zoey Tang, the 2025 U.S. Junior Girls’ Champion, shares her story of clinching the national title. Though entering the event as a clear favorite, Zoey had to reset her mindset after a minor setback, ultimately regaining confidence and composure to take calculated risks when it mattered most. Her determination paid off in the final round, where she calmly converted a difficult position into a decisive victory.

GM Alex Fishbein, the newly crowned 2025 U.S. Senior Champion, recounts one of the most thrilling tournaments of his career – a true nail-biter where no fewer than six of the ten contenders still had a shot at the title heading into the final round! In a dramatic finish, fate was decided in a three-way rapid playoff, where Fishbein finally seized the crown, prevailing over fellow grandmasters Akopian and Shabalov in a memorable “third time’s the charm” triumph.

Multiple award-winning ACM author GM Sarunas Sulskis presents three magnificent games that captured his attention. He begins with 19-year-old Indian star Divya Deshmukh, the 2025 Women’s World Cup champion, showcasing her impressive victory over compatriot Harika Dronavalli. Next comes a grueling encounter from the U.S. Open, where Daniel Naroditsky outsmarted fellow GM Rahul Peddi. To conclude, Sulskis dissects a dramatic heavyweight clash from the Sinquefield Cup, in which tournament winner GM Wesley So demonstrated remarkable precision to survive a ferocious attack by his compatriot GM Levon Aronian.

ACM endgame expert GM Alex Fishbein directs the spotlight on the legendary Efim Geller – an obstinate strategist with unshakable faith in his own ideas. Renowned as a fierce attacker and an expert in the King’s Indian Defense, Geller also possessed exemplary endgame technique. Though he never claimed the world championship crown, he was a true menace to many of his illustrious contemporaries!

A special addition to this issue is an on-site report from the Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe, brought to you by Harald Fietz. This insightful piece offers readers a deeper understanding of the rapidly growing chess variant that has gained enthusiastic acceptance among the world’s elite players. Dr. J. Corey Butler delves into the fascinating psychology of chess, exploring what truly goes on inside a player’s mind during a game. He examines whether superior working memory is essential for success, the crucial role of visualization, and practical ways to strengthen this skill for better performance at the board.

FM Dylan McClain reflects on an unusual decision by GM Hikaru Nakamura, who chose to compete in local state tournaments to meet FIDE’s participation requirements and secure his spot in the Candidates Tournament as the highest-rated qualifier.

A fascinating chess episode from years past is brought to life through an excerpt from GM Andy Soltis’s book “Deadline Grandmaster: A Chess Memoir.” Read how one of Soltis’s games sparked a spectacular post-mortem at the famous “Capablanca Table,” where none other than Bobby Fischer took center stage!

ACM would like to draw your attention to Keya Jha from Ohio, a 10-year-old rising star who recently won a Swiss open tournament and became the youngest American girl ever to defeat a grandmaster in a classical game! As usual, IM Grayson Rorrer recaps notable performances by U.S. players in both domestic and international tournaments, while FM Carsten Hansen reviews ten recently published books. Finally, this issue’s special 5x5 guest is IM John Donaldson – the legendary U.S. team captain, prolific chess author, journalist and historian.

What’s Inside

• p.12 — Undefeated in 20 Straight — The Teen Who Beat the Champ — GM Abhimanyu Mishra
• p.15 — I Love the Feeling of Winning! — Interview: Abhimanyu Mishra — Dusan Krunic
• p.20 — Chess Dirty Dozen — Twelve Players in History Who Rose to Cult Status
• p.40 — A Unique Show at the Marshall Chess Club — Down Memory Lane — GM Andrew Soltis
• p.60 — No Stepping Back! — U.S. Junior Girls' Championship — WGM Zoey Tang
• p.72 — Carlsen's Jackpot — Freestyle Chess — Harald Fietz
• p.82 — Chess 5x5 — Where Experts Guide Future Champions — John Donaldson

Inside the Issue