Latest news with #AaritKapil
India Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Delhi's 9-year-old chess prodigy Aarit Kapil comes close to beating Magnus Carlsen
In an extraordinary show of talent and composure, nine-year-old Aarit Kapil from Delhi came within a whisker of defeating reigning world number one Magnus Carlsen in a high-stakes clash during the 'Early Titled Tuesday' tournament held on a major online platform on Wednesday, June from his hotel room in Georgia, where he is currently competing in the Under-10 World Championship, Aarit faced the five-time world champion with poise well beyond his years. For much of the match, the Indian prodigy held the upper hand, even manoeuvring Carlsen into what analysts later called a 'completely lost position.'advertisementWith a rook versus two minor pieces in the final endgame, Aarit had an advantage that could have spelled defeat for one of the greatest players to have ever played the sport. However, with the clock ticking down and only seconds remaining, he was unable to convert the win and had to settle for a well-earned draw. Still, the performance sent shockwaves through the chess world—few players, let alone schoolchildren, have come this close to toppling Carlsen. WHO IS AARIT KAPIL?Aarit Kapil is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young names in the global chess circuit. Hailing from Delhi, he first made headlines in December 2024 by defeating Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov at the KIIT International Open in Bhubaneswar. At just nine years, two months, and eighteen days old, Aarit became the youngest Indian ever to beat a GM in classical play, and the third-youngest globally—behind only Singapore's Ashwath Kaushik and Serbia's Leonid for his calm temperament and sharp tactical eye, Aarit capitalised on a late blunder by Ziatdinov in that game to claim a stunning 63-move victory. Since then, he has maintained a peak Elo rating of around 1825 and continues to dominate his age group in both national and international Kapil holds the title of Candidate Master (CM), which he achieved in 2025. This FIDE title typically requires a player to reach a rating of 2200 at some point in their career. It ranks below FIDE Master (FM) and above most national-level titles. While the CM title is usually awarded based on rating, FIDE may also grant it for exceptional performances in international youth events or continental championships, even if the rating threshold has not been vying for a podium finish in the Under-10 World Championship, Aarit has already secured wins in the first two rounds and looks to carry this momentum forward. With upcoming events like the Indian Under-13 and Under-9 championships on the horizon, Aarit is going to make more headlines in the coming days.- Ends
NDTV
11 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
9-Year-Old Indian Nearly Defeats Magnus Carlsen Before World No. 1 Escapes With A Draw
Nine-year-old Aarit Kapil from Delhi came close to defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen before settling for a draw in the 'Early Titled Tuesday' chess tournament held on a leading online platform. Aarit, the runner-up at the recent Under-9 National Championship, matched the five-time world champion move for move and had Carlsen in a completely lost position. But with time running out and only a few seconds left on his clock, the young Indian was unable to convert his advantage and eventually forced a draw in a rook versus two minor pieces endgame. Aarit played this event from his hotel in Georgia, where he is currently battling for a podium finish in the under-10 World championship. Aarit has scored victories in the first two rounds and will play his third game on Wednesday. Magnus was in serious trouble in the second round of Titled Tuesday against 10-year-old 🇮🇳 CM Aarit Kapil, but they eventually agreed to a draw. — Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) June 24, 2025 Meanwhile, India's V Pranav clinched the 'Early Titled Tuesday' title with an impressive 10 out of 11 points. American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann and Carlsen both finished with 9.5 points, but Niemann secured second place on tiebreak.
