Six-year-old chess prodigy beats seven time Norwegian champion

SHE is just six years old and named after a type of wine, but this pint-sized marvel has just achieved something remarkable.

SEVEN-TIME chess champion Simen Agdestein has been defeated by an unassuming six-year-old girl in the most unlikely of sporting upsets.

Lykke-Merlot Helliesen, is named after the grape by her wine-loving dad. But while her father clearly has a penchant for wine, his daughter has shown she has a particular love of her own.

The six-year-old beat one of the sports juggernauts in a simultaneous exhibition match in which he faced off against nine girls.

The young Norwegian chess prodigy hasn’t been playing the game for very long but she has displayed abilities far beyond her years. The man who she defeated said Lykke-Merlot was better then grandchampion Magnus Carlsen was at her age. If you know anything about chess, that’s a huge wrap.

Mr Carlsen is a Norwegian chess grandmaster and the number one ranked player in the world. He is the reigning World Chess Champion in the classical, rapid and blitz formats of the game.

“She played splendidly. She is much better than that Carlsen was when he was six years old,” Mr Agdestein said after the game. And he should know, he previously coached the top ranked player, her brother, Espen Agdestein is currently his manager, reports Norwegian site, The Local.

Lykke-Merlot Helliesen notched a victory against the world number 171.

In the frantic final moments of the game, Lykke-Merlot was able to queen a pawn by getting the piece to the end of the board. The move left her in a superior position to her opponent and when the time ran out she threw her hands up in joy.

Lykke-Merlot has reportedly been playing chess for just six months at a local chess club. Her mum claims she demonstrated remarkable signs of intelligence from an early age and took to the game naturally.

“She is fascinated by the game. She is fond of playing chess, and has never been pressured,” she told local media.