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9-year-old Aarit Kapil becomes the youngest Indian chess player to defeat Grandmaster

Aarit Kapil achieved this feat at the age of nine years, two months and 18 days. He is the youngest Indian and third player in the world to defeat a Grandmaster in Classical Time Control.

Payal DebnathDecember 9, 2024 at 12:20 PM • 2 min read
9-year-old Aarit Kapil becomes the youngest Indian chess player to defeat Grandmaster
Aarit Kapil achieved this feat at the age of nine years, two months and 18 days. He is the youngest Indian and third player in the world to defeat a Grandmaster in Classical Time Control.

9-year-old Aarit Kapil of Delhi has created history and become the youngest Indian player to defeat a chess grandmaster by defeating America's Raset Ziatdinov in the ninth and final round of the KIIT International open tournament.

Aarit Kapil achieved this feat at the age of nine years, two months and 18 days. He is the youngest Indian and third player in the world to defeat a Grandmaster in Classical Time Control.

Youngest player in the world to beat GM

The youngest player in the world to defeat a Grandmaster is Ashwath Kaushik of Indian origin from Singapore. He had achieved this feat earlier this year by registering a win against Jacek Stupa of Poland. Then his age was only eight years and six months.

Kapil won the game in 63 moves

Ziatdinov is 66 years old and is certainly not at his peak but he gave a tough challenge to Kapil who was playing with white pieces. However, the Indian player responded well to his every move and added a new chapter in the history of Indian chess by winning the game in 63 moves.

Ranked third in the overall list

Besides being the youngest Indian to defeat a Chess Grandmaster, he is ranked third in the overall list. Aarit Kapil has achieved this feat in a time of 9 years and 2 months. 

Kapil is also a two-time silver medalist in the Asian Youth Chess Championship. At the age of 6, he won the title of State Champion in the Under 8 Boys Delhi State Chess Championship, competing against children 2 years older than him. After this, he got a chance to represent Delhi in the national event. 

Payal Debnath

Payal Debnath is a content writer with a deep passion for cricket. With years of experience covering sports content, she brings a unique perspective to every piece, from player analyses to match previews and game recaps. A lifelong fan of MS Dhoni, she draws inspiration from Dhoni's calm under pressure, leadership skills, and unmatched finishing ability. Combining a love for the game with a decent writing style, she delivers captivating content that keeps fans informed and engaged.

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