Saad Abobaker Elmi is the first Norwegian of African origin with IM title

History was made at the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil. Saad Abobaker Elmi becomes the first Norwegian of African origin with IM title. Elmi, who originally hails from Somalia, scored his first IM norm at Kragero Resort Chess, his second at Zadar Open , and now has secured his third IM norm a round before the end of the World Youth Chess Championship.

The event for Saad Abobaker Elmi comes right after the European Club Cup, where he played on board 1 for Bærum Schakselskap , scoring 5,5/7 and adding 30 Elo points. Now a round before the end of the World Youth 2024, Saad Abobaker Elmi has added extra 26 Elo to his rating.

Replay the games from World Youth Chess 2024 with analysis

Tarjei Svensen says, “18-year-old Saad Abobaker Elmi has made history as the first Norwegian of African origin to secure the IM title, clinching his final norm and the 2400 requirement in the World Youth U18 in Brazil.”