Parimarjan Negi is an Indian chess Grandmaster, chess author, and computer scientist. He earned the Grandmaster title in 2006 at the age of 13 years, 4 months and 22 days, becoming the second-youngest player in history at that time to achieve the title. He has represented India in multiple Chess Olympiads and is recognised as one of the strongest Indian players of his generation.
| Full name | Parimarjan Negi |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 February 1993 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Title | Grandmaster (FIDE, 2006) |
| Profession | Chess player, author, computer scientist |
| Notable distinction | One of the youngest Grandmasters in chess history |
| Honour | Arjuna Award (2010) |
Negi was born in Delhi and showed strong aptitude for chess at an early age. He achieved the International Master title at the age of 12 and the Grandmaster title soon after, in July 2006, after completing his final norm at the Chelyabinsk tournament in Russia. At the time, he was the youngest Indian to attain the GM title, surpassing Pendyala Harikrishna's earlier record.
Negi's career has been marked by strong performances at the junior, national and international levels.
His peak FIDE rating crossed 2600, placing him among the elite group of Indian players to surpass that threshold.
Negi authored a multi-volume opening series on 1.e4 published by Quality Chess, widely regarded as a comprehensive repertoire reference for advanced players. The series, titled 1.e4 vs The French, Caro-Kann and Philidor, 1.e4 vs The Sicilian (in three volumes), and 1.e4 vs Minor Defences, has been praised for its depth of analysis and practical recommendations.
After reducing his active competitive participation, Negi pursued higher education in the United States. He completed an undergraduate degree at Stanford University and later went on to doctoral research in computer science, focusing on areas related to databases and machine learning.
Parimarjan Negi is regarded as part of the wave of young Indian Grandmasters who emerged in the 2000s following the rise of Viswanathan Anand. His record-setting Grandmaster title, his contributions to chess literature, and his transition into academic research have made him a notable figure both within Indian chess and beyond.