In an extraordinary achievement for Indian chess, 5-year-old Aarini Lahoty has etched her name into the history books by breaking multiple national records and emerging as one of the youngest chess prodigies in the country.
Hailing from Kolkata, Aarini stunned the chess community by securing a series of victories in national-level U-7 and U-9 championships. Her recent triumph at the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship, where she defeated several seasoned opponents, has drawn praise from Grandmasters and chess federations across the globe.
According to the All India Chess Federation (AICF), Aarini has become the youngest Indian to achieve a rating performance above 1600 in an open tournament, a feat rarely seen at such a tender age. Her ability to calculate complex variations and maintain composure under pressure has earned her comparisons with some of the world’s greatest young talents.
Aarini’s coach, International Master Ramesh Verma, called her “a once-in-a-generation talent.” “She has a photographic memory and an innate understanding of chess patterns. What she’s doing at five is what most achieve at 10 or older,” he said.
Her parents, both engineers, say they discovered her talent during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she began solving chess puzzles on a phone app meant for adults.
With her sights now set on international tournaments, Aarini Lahoty is poised to become a global ambassador of Indian chess. The nation watches with pride and anticipation as this young genius continues to checkmate records and inspire a new generation of players.
