Aarit Kapil, a nine-year-old chess prodigy from India, has made headlines by pulling off an extraordinary result as he held the world’s top-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen, to a draw.
The unlikely outcome happened in an online event called the ‘Early Titled Tuesday’ tournament, where Aarit not only survived the game but at one point had a real chance to win.
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This draw wasn’t a lucky escape; it was a game where Aarit actually had an upper hand and pushed Carlsen hard before time pressure forced him to settle for a draw. The moment is already being hailed as one of the most impressive performances by a youngster in recent chess history.
Who is Aarit Kapil?
Hailing from Delhi, Aarit is already considered one of India’s brightest young chess talents. He recently finished second in the Under-9 National Championship and is currently in Georgia, competing in the Under-10 World Championship.
During the Titled Tuesday tournament, Aarit played against five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen and managed to create serious problems for the Norwegian legend.
As the match progressed, Aarit gained a clear advantage and appeared to be on the brink of victory. But the game eventually ended in a rook vs two minor pieces draw.
What made it even more special was that Aarit played this game from his hotel room in Georgia, where he’s also won his first two matches at the World U-10 event.
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This isn’t Aarit’s first brush with greatness. In December 2024, he became the youngest player to defeat a Grandmaster in a classical game and beat American GM Raset Ziatdinov at the KIIT International Open in Bhubaneswar.