Nine-year-old Aarit Kapil from Delhi has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to defeat a chess Grandmaster (GM). He achieved this milestone by beating Raset Ziatdinov from the United States in the ninth round of the KIIT International Open Tournament. At just 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days old, Aarit is now the third youngest player in the world to achieve this feat under classical time control.
Details of the Game
- Opponent: Raset Ziatdinov, a 66-year-old GM
- Result: Aarit won after 63 moves, turning a slightly worse position into a victory following Ziatdinov’s mistake, losing a knight in the endgame.
- Significance: The win places Aarit among the world’s elite young talents in chess, showcasing his resilience and strategic thinking despite facing a more experienced opponent.
Youngest Players to Beat a GM
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- Ashwath Kaushik (Singapore) – 8 years, 2 months
- Leonid Ivanovic (Serbia) – 8 years, 11 months
- Aarit Kapil (India) – 9 years, 2 months
Future Challenges
Aarit will next compete in the Under-13 National Chess Championship in Durgapur and the Under-9 National Championship in Pune, where he will continue to test his skills against some of the best young players in India.
Other Highlights
- Winner of KIIT International Open Tournament: GM Boris Savchenko (Russia) with a score of 8.5 points out of 10.
- Draw in Final Round: Savchenko drew with India’s Sayantan Das in the final round.
This victory for Aarit Kapil has brought him into the spotlight and further solidifies India’s strong presence in the world of chess.
