The Junior Championship is an important event, especially since the age of the chess wizards is getting lower and lower these days.

<big>The Junior Championship is an important event, especially since the age of the chess wizards is getting lower and lower these days. 
Players under 20 years of age can participate. 
In the past, the tournament has seen true champions triumph. Super-GMs like Anand, Aronian, Mamedyarov, Vachier-Lagrave, Andreikin, and many others then went on to become part of the elite. 
This year, the Junior Championship was held in Mexico. 
The favorite at the beginning of the tournament was surely GM Hans Niemann. With his monster rating of 2667 and the already important experience that Hans matured by playing in elite events, everyone was expecting the US GM to win.</big>

<big><img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/Niemann_FIDE.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto;" /></big> 
GM Hans&nbsp;Niemann (from FIDE.com) 
 
<big>But things don&#39;t always go how we expect them to, right? 
In round 3, Hans faced the 13-year-old IM&nbsp;Andy Woodward, rated 2480.</big>

<img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/Andy_Woodward.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto;" /> 
IM Andy Woodward - Photo&nbsp;Juan Cendejas

<big>Here is the game:</big> 

<div class="responsive" style="overflow-x:auto;">
<iframe width="620" height="500" src="https://webcast.chessclub.com/embed/World_Junior_2023_niemann_woodward.html" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



<big>It must have been tough for Hans to recover from such a loss. But Hans has already shown the world that he&#39;s a tough guy and went on to win the next two games. 
In round six, the US&nbsp;prodigy was held to a draw by GM Jan Subeli. 
Then Hans&#39;s games went a bit up and down, but he managed to reach&nbsp;the last round without any more defeats. 
Before the last round, theoretically, Niemann could still have won the tournament:</big>

<img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/World_Junior_2023_standings_Rd10_1.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto;" /> 
 
<big>But in round 11, Hans lost with the Russian GM Nesterov (third-seeded), whereas the 16-year-old French GM Marc&#39;andria Maurizzi drew his last game, securing the title!</big>

<img alt="" src="https://www.chessclub.com/uploads/content/GM_Maurizzi.png" style="max-width: 100%;height: auto;" /> 
GM Marc&#39;andria Maurizzi, 2023 World Junior Champion - from X/Twitter 
 
<big>Unfortunately, there won&#39;t be another chance for Hans, as he&#39;s 20. But we&#39;re sure he will keep getting invitations to elite events to show the chess world his magic! 
Starting October 5, Hans will be playing in the US Championship. See <a href="https://www2.chessclub.com/article/event/us-chess-championships">OUR ARTICLE</a>.</big> 
&nbsp;

FIDE World Junior Championship 2023