Chess Sensation: 9-Year-Old Indian Prodigy Draws with Magnus Carlsen in Online Tournament

Chess Prodigy: Nine-Year-Old Indian Holds Magnus Carlsen to a Draw

In a stunning turn of events, nine-year-old Indian chess player Aarit Kapil achieved a remarkable draw against world number one Magnus Carlsen. The feat occurred during the 'Early Titled Tuesday' online chess tournament, marking a significant moment for the young player.

Magnus Carlsen in deep thought during a chess match.

Aarit Kapil, who recently secured the runner-up position in the Under-9 National Championship, showcased exceptional skill by dominating the game against the five-time world champion. At one point, Carlsen was in a clear losing position, highlighting the young player's impressive capabilities.

However, the pressure of time ultimately hindered Aarit from converting his advantage into a victory. The game concluded in a draw during a rook versus two minor pieces endgame.

The young chess talent from Delhi participated in the online tournament while in Georgia, where he is currently competing in the under-10 World Championship. He has started strong, winning his first two rounds and preparing for his third game on Wednesday.

While Aarit Kapil's draw against Carlsen was a highlight, Indian player V Pranav emerged as the winner of the 'Early Titled Tuesday' tournament, accumulating an impressive 10 points out of 11 rounds.

American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann and Magnus Carlsen both tied for second place with 9.5 points, with Niemann securing the second position based on tiebreak scores.

Carlsen's Freestyle Chess Milestone

Adding to his list of achievements, Magnus Carlsen recently attained a historic 2900 rating in freestyle chess. This accomplishment marks the first time a player has reached such a high rating in any format of the game.

Carlsen has maintained his position as the world number one for almost 15 years. His peak classical chess rating was 2882, achieved in May 2014. The new freestyle chess ratings are now managed independently by the Freestyle Chess organization, separate from FIDE, the global chess governing body.

In a lighthearted comment after learning about his new rating, Carlsen joked with Freestyle Chess, stating, "My wife (Ella Victoria) is way more attracted to me now that I've achieved 2900."

The freestyle ratings calculation considered performances from five tournaments: Weissenhaus 2024, Singapore 2024, Weissenhaus 2025, Paris 2025, and Karlsruhe 2025. The evaluation included 578 players who participated in at least one of these events over the past two years.

Other notable Indian players are also making their mark in freestyle chess. Praggnanandhaa currently holds the fourth position with 2773 points, following Carlsen (2909), Hikaru Nakamura (2818), and Fabiano Caruana (2804).