Aarit Kapil, a remarkable young chess talent hailing from Delhi, has etched his name in history by becoming the youngest Indian to triumph over a grandmaster. At the tender age of 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days, he achieved this feat against Raset Ziatdinov from the United States during the ninth round of the KIIT International Open tournament held in Bhubaneshwar. Although Aarit did not secure the overall tournament victory, his win represented a significant milestone in his career. The tournament was ultimately won by Russian Grandmaster Boris Savchenko, while Aarit is set to participate in upcoming competitions in Durgapur and Pune.Aarit is now recognized as the third youngest player worldwide to accomplish this remarkable achievement in classical chess. The record for the youngest player to defeat a grandmaster is held by Ashwath Kaushik, an Indian-origin player from Singapore, who earlier this year bested Jacek Stupa of Poland at the age of 8 years and six months.
In his match against Ziatdinov, Aarit faced a formidable opponent; the 66-year-old American had the upper hand due to his advantageous pawn structure. Nevertheless, Aarit exhibited remarkable resilience and strategic insight while playing with the white pieces. His determination was evident as he seized upon Ziatdinov’s critical mistake, which resulted in the loss of a knight. This pivotal error enabled Aarit to transform his advantage into a victory after 63 moves, showcasing his calculated approach and precise execution. This accomplishment positions Aarit among India’s elite young chess players, and his performance in Bhubaneshwar has attracted admiration from chess enthusiasts nationwide. The young prodigy’s journey is set to continue with forthcoming tournaments that offer promising avenues for further development and success in his emerging chess career.
