Canadian Chess Grandmaster | 2022 World U18 Champion | Youngest Quebec GM in history
The inspiring journey of Montreal's chess prodigy, from school tournaments to the world stage
Born in 2004 in Montreal, Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux learned chess at age 6 and quickly rose through the ranks. By 12, he had a FIDE rating over 2000. In 2022, he won the World Under 18 Chess Championship, becoming only the second Canadian to win a World Youth title and the first Quebecer to do so. Shawn completed his Grandmaster title in 2023 at age 19, officially awarded in 2024, making him the youngest GM in Quebec's history.
Shawn is known for his creative and unorthodox style, often employing rare openings like 1.a3 to surprise his opponents. His perfect 9/9 score at the 2022 Charlotte IM C Norm Invitational (3037 performance) drew international attention, including coverage by GothamChess. He has held top Canadian and world youth rankings and is a regular competitor in elite international events.
Achieved FM title at age 12
Won the World Youth Chess Championship (U18) in Romania
Earned final GM norm at FIDE Grand Swiss, defeating several top grandmasters
Officially awarded the GM title by FIDE
Key numbers from Shawn's chess career (as of July 2025)
Selected games from Shawn's international career
Scored 9/11 to win gold in Romania, including a decisive win in round 9 against Nogerbek Kazybek.
Achieved a perfect 9/9 score with a 3037 performance, drawing international attention.
Held GM Hikaru Nakamura to a draw in a high-profile exhibition in Toronto, one of only three players to do so out of 200 challengers.
Live stats and links to Shawn's official online chess accounts
Current and peak ratings for each time control (as of July 2025)
| Time Control | Current | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid | - | - |
| Blitz | - | - |
| Bullet | - | - |
| Time Control | Current | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid | 2612 | 2612 |
| Blitz | 2834 | 2834 |
| Bullet | 2943 | 2943 |
| Time Control | Current | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Classical | 2510 | 2519 |
| Rapid | 2473 | 2477 |
| Blitz | 2505 | 2505 |
| Time Control | Current |
|---|---|
| Regular | 2582 |
| Quick | 2450 |
| Active | 2400 |
Featured interviews, articles, and videos about Shawn's chess journey and philosophy
Shawn is known for his creative, unorthodox approach, often employing rare openings and dynamic play to outmaneuver his opponents. He is especially famous for using 1.a3 and other offbeat lines, and for his resilience in complex positions.