Draft:Aarit Kapil
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Aarit Kapil (born 13 September 2015) is an Indian chess prodigy and Candidate Master (CM).[1] At the age of nine, he gained international attention by drawing against world number one Magnus Carlsen in an online blitz tournament in June 2025.[2] He is the youngest Indian to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess and has won the National Under-11 Chess Championship.[3]
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 September 2015 New Delhi, India |
| Chess career | |
| Country |  India |
| Title | Candidate Master (CM) |
| FIDE rating | 2119 |
| Peak rating | 2119 (Classical) |
Early life
Aarit Kapil was born on 13 September 2015 in New Delhi, India. He grew up in the Mayur Vihar neighborhood and attends Somerville School, where he is in the fifth standard.[4] His elder sister, Aarna, introduced him to chess at the age of five in 2020. Within a week of learning the basics, Aarit was defeating family members, prompting his parents to enroll him with a professional coach. He quickly showed prodigious talent, winning an international online tournament shortly after beginning formal training. Aarit dedicates five to six hours daily to chess, often focusing exclusively on the game to the exclusion of other activities. His father has described him as a child who "focuses solely on chess."[5]
Chess career
Aarit trains under International Master (IM) Vishal Sareen and holds the FIDE title of Candidate Master, with a classical rating of 2119 and rapid rating of 2083 as of October 2025. His FIDE ID is 33408947.[6]
In December 2024, at the age of nine years, two months, and 18 days, Aarit defeated 66-year-old American Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov in a classical game, becoming the youngest Indian to beat a grandmaster and the third-youngest player globally to achieve this feat.[7]
In June 2025, while competing in the FIDE World Cadets Cup under-10 category in Batumi, Georgia, Aarit participated in the Early Titled Tuesday online blitz event on Chess.com, restricted to titled players. In round two, he drew against five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in a three-minute game with a one-second increment. Aarit held a winning position until move 46 but faced time pressure, resulting in a draw on move 49. Carlsen finished third in the 664-player tournament, which also featured grandmasters like Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana.
In August 2025, Aarit won the National Under-11 Chess Championship in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, representing the Delhi Chess Association.
Aarit has been dubbed the "Sachin Tendulkar of chess" due to his rapid rise and has publicly pleaded for financial support to continue his career, highlighting the challenges faced by young prodigies from modest backgrounds.
Personal life
Aarit comes from a supportive family in Delhi. He balances his intense training schedule with school studies and remains focused on chess as his primary passion.
Achievements
- Youngest Indian to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess (December 2024)
- Third-youngest player globally to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess
- Drew with Magnus Carlsen in Titled Tuesday (June 2025)
- Winner, National Under-11 Chess Championship (August 2025)
- Participant, FIDE World Cadets Cup U-10 (June 2025)
