New Delhi: National Under-10 champion Parimarjan Negi today (Jan 6, 2004) became the youngest IM norm holder of the country after his application was upheld by FIDE (Federation Internationale des Echecs), the game's world governing body.

Parimarjan was given the norm following his outstanding performance in Bad Weissee tournament in Germany in November 2003.

He had played one Grandmaster and three FIDE Masters at the tournament and had he played one more FIDE Master then, he would have secured the IM norm as per the criteria to get the norm.

But since the young prodigy remained unbeaten throughout against much stronger opposition and scored 6.5 points out of a possible 9, the world body decided to consider his application for the norm.

FIDE vice president and secretary of All India Chess Federation P T Ummer Koya confirmed that the norm had been given to Parimarjan.

"Parimarjan's success is another step forward and I am sure he will be able to beat the youngest Grandmaster record in time to come," Koya said over phone.

"He will definitely be one of our 100 Grandmasters by 2012," he added.

The fifth standard student has an ELO rating of 2149 points at present.