Saad Elmi gets 2nd IM norm!
Saad Elmi of Norway earned his 2nd IM norm at the Zadar GM Norm Tournament in Croatia. He ended on an undefeated 6/9, drawing all three GMs in the field. Now at 18, Elmi has collected two IM norms and according to mentor GM Pontus Carlsson, “He just missed the GM norm.”
FM Saad Elmi (right) deciding on his third move against GM Ante Saric.
Photo courtesy of Aleksander Delchev
All Games (PGN)
Carlsson added, “Elmi is in the Extreme Makeover Program of Business Meets Chess & Kids, so he receives a lot of support and Grandmaster training.” This program has aided 19-year-old Elham Amar of Norway, who earned his GM title earlier this year.
Elmi scored his first IM norm at the Kragero Resort Chess International last February, beating GM Valentin Dragnev in the last round. At the Kadar GM Invitational in February, he clinched the second IM norm with a draw against untitled Honi Arora of India.
The date Elmi is circling on his calendar is the European Youth Championship in August, a stiff test. He will have a couple of opportunities to sharpen his skills in the coming weeks. The next tournament will be the Zadar Chess Festival in Croatia, July16th-23rd, and then he will go for the Kavala International in Greece from July 29th-August 5th.
Photo courtesy of Pontus Carlsson
Saad Elmi is a scholarship recipient from the Norwegian company FERD. This program allows him to study at the Norwegian School of Elite Sports.