New Delhi, June 25:
In an astonishing display of talent, nine-year-old Aarit Kapil from Delhi stunned the global chess community by holding world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen to a draw in the prestigious ‘Early Titled Tuesday’ online chess tournament.
Aarit, currently competing in Georgia as part of the Indian contingent at the Under-10 World Championship, demonstrated exceptional composure and strategy against the five-time world champion. The young chess prodigy even had Carlsen in a clearly inferior position during the middle game. However, with only seconds left on his clock, Aarit was unable to convert his advantage, and the match concluded in a draw after a complex endgame featuring a rook against two minor pieces.
This impressive result comes on the heels of Aarit’s runner-up finish at the Under-9 National Chess Championship, further cementing his status as one of India’s most promising young talents. He has started his World Championship campaign strongly, winning his first two matches and will play his third game on Wednesday with hopes of securing a podium finish.
Elsewhere in the Early Titled Tuesday tournament, India’s V Pranav emerged as the overall champion with a commanding score of 10 out of 11. American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann edged out Carlsen for second place on tiebreaks, with both finishing at 9.5 points.
Aarit’s performance against Carlsen has drawn widespread praise from players and coaches alike, with many hailing it as a defining moment in India’s youth chess movement. As the young master continues his journey on the international stage, all eyes will be on him as a future star of the game.
— Northeast Press
