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GM Daniel Dardha

Belgium

Born on October 01, 2005, in Mortsel

Elo std: 2650
Rapid: 2582
Blitz: 2617

GMT: –
MTO: –
 
Biography
Daniel Dardha was born on October 1, 2005, in Antwerp, Belgium, to a family with Albanian roots. As a rising star from Belgium, Dardha has made a significant mark in the chess world at a remarkably young age.
His parents immigrated from Berat, Albania, to Belgium in 1997, bringing with them a chess heritage that profoundly shaped Daniel’s path. His father, Arben Dardha, a FIDE Master and former Albanian U20 Champion (winning the title at age 16), has been Daniel’s primary coach and a key influence on his development. His grandfather, Bardhyl Dardha, was also a chess coach in Albania and remained active in online chess into his 80s, further embedding the game in the family’s legacy.
Growing up in Antwerp, Daniel was immersed in chess from a young age, learning the rules at 5 or 6 and quickly showing exceptional talent. He attended Xaveriuscollege in Borgerhout, where he pursued a rigorous academic program in Sciences and Mathematics, balancing his studies with an intensive chess schedule. His early exposure to competitive chess came through local clubs and national youth tournaments, supported by Belgium’s growing chess community. Despite Belgium not being a traditional chess powerhouse, Dardha’s success has elevated the country’s profile in the sport, inspiring a new generation of players.
Chess Successes
Daniel Dardha’s career is defined by a rapid rise through the ranks, record-breaking achievements, and consistent improvement, establishing him as Belgium’s top player and a global talent:
  • Early Achievements: Dardha’s talent emerged early. In 2017, at age 12, he won the Belgian Youth Championship U12 with an outstanding 8.5/9. In 2018, he dominated the U14 category with a perfect 9/9 and capped the year by winning the World U14 Blitz Chess Championship, signaling his potential on the international stage.
  • Belgian Chess Championship: Dardha made history in 2019 when, at just 13 years old, he won the Belgian Chess Championship in Charleroi. In a 10-player round-robin event, he scored 6/9, tying with GM Tanguy Ringoir but clinching the title on tiebreaks (more wins), becoming the youngest Belgian champion ever. He defended his title in 2021, 2022, and 2024, accumulating four national championships by age 19. His absence from the 2023 event was due to his participation in the FIDE World Cup.
  • International Master (IM) Title: In 2019, shortly after his first national title, Dardha earned the IM title. His performance at the 2019 Belgian Championship (rating performance of 2483) served as his fourth IM norm, with FIDE officially granting the title in September 2019 at age 14.
  • Grandmaster (GM) Title: Dardha achieved the GM title in November 2021 at age 15 years and 10 months, making him Belgium’s youngest-ever Grandmaster. He secured the required three norms, with a critical performance at the 2021 Belgian Championship, where his second title win finalized his GM status. This broke the previous Belgian record held by GM Alexandre Dgebuadze, who earned the title at 21.
  • Notable Tournaments:
    • 2020: Won the Chartres GM Tournament in France with 7/9 and scored 7/10 at the Sitges Open in Spain, showcasing his growing international presence.
    • 2022: Competed in the Tata Steel Challengers in Wijk aan Zee, scoring 5.5/13 (3 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses) against a strong field, gaining valuable experience.
    • 2023 FIDE World Cup: In his first World Cup appearance in Baku, Dardha defeated Singapore’s IM Goh Wei Ming (2-0) in the first round but fell to Germany’s GM Vincent Keymer (0-2) in the second, marking a solid debut against elite competition.
    • 2024: Finished second in the Tata Steel Challengers with 8/13, narrowly missing promotion to the Masters section for 2025. He also won the Sardinia World Chess Festival Open A, reinforcing his competitive edge in open tournaments.
    • 2025: Took second place at the Djerba Chess Festival Masters in Tunisia, behind GM Hans Niemann, in a field featuring GMs like Vassily Ivanchuk and Aryan Tari, further solidifying his reputation.
  • European Championship 2024: Dardha achieved a significant milestone by finishing second at the European Individual Chess Championship, earning the vice-champion title and demonstrating his ability to compete with Europe’s best.
Dardha’s playing style is dynamic, blending sharp tactical creativity with resilience, shaped by his father’s coaching and occasional mentorship from GM Ivan Sokolov through Belgium’s “Go for Grandmaster” program. His record-breaking feats—youngest Belgian champion and GM—alongside strong performances in prestigious events like Tata Steel, the World Cup, and the European Championship, mark him as an exceptional talent. At only 19, with ongoing support from the Belgian Chess Federation and Chess Liga Antwerp, Dardha’s trajectory suggests he could soon challenge the world’s elite, potentially aiming for the 2700 Elo milestone and beyond.