Born on January 22, 1983 in Picardie, France, Etienne Bacrot began playing chess at age 4 and won his first junior championships in Hungary and Czechoslovakia at age 10. He has followed the teachings of internationally ranked players including Grandmaster Iossif Dorfman and World Champion Garry Kasparov.

Bacrot surprised the chess world in 1995 when he qualified for the Intel Grand Prix in Paris and competed against the previous champion, Vladimir Kramnik. In that year he became an International Master and defeated Anatoly Karpov. Vassily Smyslov, a former world champion, said after his loss to Etienne, "I thought I was playing a child, but I am certain I played a Grandmaster."

In March 1997, Etienne Bacrot became the youngest Grandmaster in chess history at Enghien-les-Bains, France at the age of 14 years and 2 months. He held that distinction until December of that year. Later this year, Etienne will compete in the French national championships and will challenge GM Alexander Beliavsky in the 27th Mondial. We are delighted to have this exceptional young player as one of our Chess Analysts. Stop in and meet Etienne in our Chat Room.