He won the 1987 European Junior Chess Championship in Groningen and first achieved international notice by winning the 1988 New York Open with 7½/9, ahead of a field of Grandmasters.
Dia memenangkan European Junior Chess Championship 1987 di Groningen dan pertama kali dikenal secara internasional dengan memenangkan New York Open 1988 dengan 7½/9, di atas para Grandmaster.