Chess prodigy Samuel Sevian, 13, is America's youngest ever grandmaster
Aged just 13, prodigy shatters record to become country's youngest grandmaster
Not many people can claim to have shattered a major American record at a mere 13 years, 10 months and 27 days.
But chess prodigy Samuel Sevian can now do just that after being crowned the country's youngest-ever grandmaster, beating the previous record holder by more than a year.
Sevian won all four of his games to push his World Chess Federation rating past 2,500 points - enough to secure grandmaster status - at a tournament in St Louis.
"I feel really good and somewhat relieved. This was one of my best tournament performances," the teen said, noting he had beaten three grandmasters during the event in only 20-25 moves.
His father Armen - a scientist born and raised in Armenia who later emigrated to the United States - is bursting with pride.
"He really outplayed his opponents in three games. But the fourth, it was really back and forth, it wasn't clear," he said.
"It was like a blitz, it came down to the last seconds. Both players were shaking."
The previous record for the youngest US grandmaster was held by Ray Robson, who achieved the title two weeks before he turned 15. American legend Bobby Fischer also once held the record.
Sevian is well accustomed to setting US records, having become the youngest American expert - another ranking - before he was 10. At 12 years and 10 months, he became the country's youngest international master.
He is now the sixth-youngest grandmaster in the world and is determined to eventually become world champion.
The youngest person to win the status is Russia's Sergey Karjakin, who hit the mark at just 12 years, seven months.
