Wei Yi – "The King Hunter"

Wei Yi (born 1999) is a Chinese chess prodigy and elite Grandmaster. He burst onto the scene as a teenager, breaking rating records previously held by Magnus Carlsen.

He is famous for creating "Immortal" masterpieces. Unlike many modern players who play dry, technical chess, Wei Yi frequently sacrifices material to deliver beautiful checkmates.

Yes. He crossed the elite 2700 rating threshold at the age of 15 years, 8 months, and 23 days—a record that still stands today.

He slowed down his chess career to attend university in China. However, he returned to full-time elite chess in 2023/2024 with massive success, winning Tata Steel.

His victory over Bruzon Batista featured a Rook sacrifice on f7 followed by a King hunt that is considered one of the most beautiful combinations in history.

He broke Magnus Carlsen's record by crossing 2700 ELO at age 15, signaling his potential as a future World Champion candidate.

He won the "Wimbledon of Chess" in 2024, proving he is still one of the world's best after finishing his university studies.

He won the incredibly strong Chinese Chess Championship three years in a row (2015, 2016, 2017).

At just 15 years old, he played a crucial role in helping China win its first-ever Gold Medal at the Chess Olympiad.

He won the Asian Continental Championship in 2018, confirming his dominance in the region.

Like Nigel Short, he is famous for using his King actively. In his game against Nepomniachtchi (2024), he walked his King up the board to help win.

He led China to Gold at the World Team Championships multiple times (2015, 2017), often scoring critical points.

While famous for tactics, his Tata Steel 2024 victory showed he has evolved into a complete player who can grind out technical wins.

He earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 13 years and 8 months, one of the fastest in history.

He is a devotee of the Sicilian Najdorf, using it to create sharp, unbalanced struggles.

Despite his genius, he is known for being incredibly humble and soft-spoken in interviews.

He excels in knockout formats, having reached the quarterfinals of the FIDE World Cup multiple times.

He won the Leon Magistral rapid tournament multiple times, defeating legends like Anand and Topalov in matches.

For years, he was simply known as "The Kid" on the elite circuit because he was so much younger than his 2700+ rivals.

He is known for his ability to recall thousands of complex variations, allowing him to play the opening instantly.

In an era of "Grandmaster Draws," Wei Yi fights. His draw percentage is lower than many of his peers because he takes risks.

His calculation speed makes him deadly in blitz. He proved this by crushing the field in the Tata Steel 2024 tiebreaks.

He often sacrifices material not for immediate mate, but for long-term initiative, a trait of the very best attackers.

With his return to full-time chess, many experts believe he is once again a serious contender for the World Title.