A nine-year-old chess player from Delhi, Aarit Kapil, is making headlines worldwide after nearly defeating Magnus Carlsen, the world's number one chess player. This remarkable feat occurred during an online blitz game in the "Early Titled Tuesday" competition on Chess.com. While the game ended in a draw, Aarit's performance has been lauded as a testament to his exceptional talent and the growing strength of Indian chess.
Aarit, a standard five student from Mayur Vihar's Somerville School in Delhi, has only been playing chess for four years. His journey began when his elder sister, Aarna, taught him the basics of the game. His father, Vijay, recalls that within a week, Aarit was already beating them. Recognizing his potential, they enlisted a coach, and Aarit quickly won an international online tournament. He currently dedicates five to six hours daily to chess, guided by IM Vishal Sareen.
The "Early Titled Tuesday" tournament is an exclusive event open only to players with FIDE titles, attracting elite grandmasters such as Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Aarit, a Candidate Master, participated in the online event from his hotel room in Batumi, Georgia, where he is currently competing in the FIDE World Cadets Cup in the under-10 category.
During the game against Carlsen, Aarit displayed fearless play, launching attacks early on and sacrificing bishops deep into Carlsen's territory. Despite being a pawn down after move 14, Aarit maintained a winning position until move 46. However, with only seven seconds left on the clock, he couldn't convert his advantage into a win, and the game ended in a draw after 49 moves. Despite the time pressure, Aarit forced Carlsen to think deeply, leaving the world champion with only 20 seconds himself at one point.
This draw against Carlsen adds to Aarit's growing list of achievements. In December 2024, he became the youngest Indian and third-youngest player globally to defeat a Grandmaster in classical time control, defeating 66-year-old Raset Ziatdinov of the United States at the KIIT International Open in Bhubaneswar. At the time, he was nine years, two months, and eighteen days old. Only Ashwath Kaushik of Singapore and Leonid Ivanovic of Serbia were younger when they achieved the same feat.
Chess experts have praised Aarit's game against Carlsen, noting his understanding of positional play and endgame tactics, qualities rarely seen in players his age. He is also the runner-up in the Under-9 National Championship. Aarit's recent performance has drawn attention to the rising prominence of Indian chess players on the global stage. Just weeks before Aarit's draw, 19-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Magnus Carlsen at the Norway Chess tournament. Other Indian Grandmasters, like Arjun Erigaisi, have also defeated Carlsen, signaling a new era of Indian dominance in the sport.
Aarit's family is seeking sponsors to support his chess career and enable him to participate in more international tournaments. His father shared a story of Aarit's unwavering dedication to chess: "Sometimes when he has a bad tournament, we jokingly tell him 'tera chess rukwadenge' (We'll stop your chess). He says, 'jo marzi karlo, chess nahi chhodunga' (Do whatever you can, I won't stop playing chess)." His father also added, "Bas chess hi karta hai. Aur kuch nahi karta. (only chess, nothing else)."
Aarit Kapil's near-victory against Magnus Carlsen has not only shocked the chess world but has also solidified his position as a rising star in Indian chess. His talent, dedication, and composure at such a young age suggest a bright future, with the potential to join the ranks of India's elite chess players and leave a lasting mark on the global chess stage.
