Imagine a nine-year-old, sitting in a hotel room in Georgia, calmly facing the pressure of playing against the reigning world chess champion, Magnus Carlsen.

This wasn’t a simple match; it was a storied chapter in the ‘Early Titled Tuesday’ tournament, and young Aarit Kapil was just moves away from a historic win.

During the intense match, Aarit held a significant advantage with a rook against two of Carlsen’s minor pieces. Chess pundits could see a potential defeat for Carlsen.

With each tick of the clock, what could have been an upset victory became a draw — still an achievement that rippled through the chess community.

Hailing from Delhi, Aarit had first graced headlines when he became the youngest Indian to defeat Grandmaster Raset Ziatdinov last year.

His skills earned him the prestigious title of Candidate Master in 2025, solidifying Aarit’s reputation as one of the most promising players in the chess world.

It was just four years ago that Aarit started playing chess under the guidance of his elder sister, Aarna. What started as a sibling pastime soon revealed his exceptional talent.

Despite limited participation in international events, partly due to financial constraints, Aarit dedicates five to six hours daily to refining his skills.

As quoted in The Indian Express, his parents recount, “During light-hearted moments after a tough tournament, we jest with Aarit, teasing that we’ll stop his chess.”

But Aarit, with resolute determination, responds, ‘Jo marzi karlo, chess nahi chhodunga’ (Do whatever you can, I won’t stop playing chess).