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12-Year-Old Becomes Canada’s Youngest International Master

12-year-old Aaron Reeve Mendes from Mississauga, Ontario has made history as the youngest Canadian to earn the prestigious international master title. Mendes secured first place at the 2024 North American Youth Chess Championship held in Dulles, Va., last month. Mendes developed an interest in chess through his father and has been playing chess since he was 5 years old. He has always been drawn to the game’s complexity and endless possibilities.

Mendes spent his early childhood in India developing a passion for chess and was supported by his parents and teachers. His mother, Jennifer Mendes, recalled how her son showed an early talent for chess and coaches quickly recognized his potential. Within just six months of learning chess at the age of 5, he was occasionally defeating his coach. Soon after, the family began travelling internationally to support his journey as a young chess prodigy.

With family ties to Canada, the family immigrated to Canada in 2021, and Mendes continued to excel in major tournaments. In 2019, he competed in the Canadian Youth Chess Championships for the first time, provincially in Ontario and nationally.  The young player and his sister both became Canadian citizens last year. Mendes claimed first place in the 2022 Canadian Open Chess Championship and won a gold medal at the International Chess Federation’s World School Championship in Panama, competing against players from 37 countries.

Source: EverythingGP