Nine-Year-Old Aarit Kapil Becomes Youngest Indian to Defeat a Chess Grandmaster

“Believe in yourself, stay determined, and never stop chasing your dreams.”~Aarit Kapil

In a remarkable feat of skill and determination, nine-year-old Aarit Kapil from Delhi has emerged as the youngest Indian to triumph over a chess Grandmaster. He emerged victorious against 66-year-old Raset Ziatdinov from the United States in the ninth and second-to-last round of the KIIT International Open tournament. 

A Strategy and Resilience Game 

The high-pressure game challenged both tactics and stamina. Ziatdinov, a seasoned Grandmaster, employed a sturdy pawn formation, achieving a positional edge. Nonetheless, Aarit, using the white pieces, demonstrated remarkable perseverance. Even though he was at a slightly disadvantage, he persevered through a prolonged endgame. The situation changed when Ziatdinov committed a significant error, losing a knight. Through accurate calculations, Aarit took advantage of the moment, achieving triumph after 63 fierce moves. 

A Young Champion’s Contemplation 

Reflecting on his success, Aarit mentioned, “I realized I had to remain concentrated until the very finish. “Every action matters, and I’m thankful I persevered.” Although Aarit’s achievement ranks him among the youngest chess prodigies globally, the title for the youngest player to defeat a Grandmaster remains with Ashwath Kaushik, an Indian-origin Singaporean, who triumphed over Poland’s Jacek Stupa earlier this year at only eight years and six months. 

Aarit’s adventure progresses with new challenges in the under-13 national championship in Durgapur and the under-9 nationals in Pune. His coach characterized him as “a dedicated and industrious athlete with great potential.” 

Tournament Highlights and Way Ahead

The KIIT tournament has wrapped up, with Russia’s Grandmaster Boris Savchenko taking the title, achieving 8.5 points from a possible 10 after finishing in a draw with India’s Sayantan Das in the last round.  Aarit’s motivating success teaches us that age does not limit greatness. While he gets ready for upcoming competitions, the chess community keenly observes this young prodigy, expecting numerous victories in his promising career.