10 year-old Aarit Kapil wins 1st Shri PL Sharma Memorial Rapid Rating 2026
The 1st Shri PL Sharma Memorial Open International Fide Rated Rapid Chess Tournament was won by CM Aarit Kapil of Delhi. He scored 8 points to win the tournament with 7 wins and 2 draws. Second place was secured by CM Vandan Alankar Sawai of Delhi, as he also scored 8 points with 7 wins and 2 Draws. Third, Fourth, and Fifth place was secured by IM Aaryan Varshney of Delhi, scoring 8/9 points, Anadkat Kartavya of Gujarat, 7.5/9 points, and IM Sharma Dinesh K of LIC scoring 7.5/9 points. The tournament was organised by Queen Chess Academy at Sadhu Vaswani International School for Girls, Sector 4, Shanti Niketan, Delhi, on 31st January-1st February. Photos: IA Shardul Sharma
Aarit is also the current Delhi State Under-15 champion
Aarit Kapil started this year by winning the Delhi State Under-15 Championship. Aarit started that event in 3rd place and finished in first place. In the 1st Shri PL Sharma Memorial Rapid Rating 2026, Aarit was unbeaten, like in the state championship he won.
Interview with Aarit Kapil
Devansh Singh (DS): How does it feel to win this tournament?
Aarit Kapil (AK): It was great and I was not expecting this. But I am happy with the way it happened.
DS: Which match was the toughest for you and why?
AK: All opponents played very well, but the last match with Vandan was quite interesting. He played really well, that's why the match ended in a draw.
DS: What is one lesson this tournament taught you?
AK: Believe in yourself and things will come in your way automatically.
426 players participated in the event, among them 221 were FIDE-rated, including 5 IMs, 2 FMs, and 2 CMs, with other titled players too. The Chief Guest for the Prize distribution ceremony was Mr. Atul Mishra (Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs), and other guests distributed the cash prizes and trophies.
Final Ranking after 9 Rounds
Rk. | SNo |
| Name | Typ | sex | FED | RtgI | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | TB6 | Rp | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | CM | U12 | IND | 2083 | DL | 8 | 53,5 | 58 | 50,75 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2160 | |||
2 | 12 | CM | IND | 1982 | DL | 8 | 53 | 57,5 | 50 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2134 | ||||
3 | 2 | IM | IND | 2293 | DL | 8 | 50,5 | 55,5 | 48 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 2105 | ||||
4 | 7 | IND | 2146 | GJ | 7,5 | 53,5 | 57,5 | 45,75 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2124 | |||||
5 | 4 | IM | IND | 2215 | UP | 7,5 | 52,5 | 58 | 47,25 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1999 | ||||
6 | 8 | FM | IND | 2095 | HR | 7,5 | 50 | 55,5 | 45,5 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1931 | ||||
7 | 14 | IND | 1978 | DL | 7,5 | 49 | 53 | 42,75 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1935 | |||||
8 | 9 | IND | 2088 | DL | 7,5 | 48,5 | 52,5 | 41 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1910 | |||||
9 | 21 | IND | 1784 | DL | 7,5 | 46 | 49 | 39,75 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1812 | |||||
10 | 78 | U14 | IND | 1567 | HR | 7,5 | 46 | 49 | 39 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1932 | ||||
11 | 13 | FM | U14 | IND | 1978 | DL | 7 | 54,5 | 58,5 | 43 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2017 | |||
12 | 23 | IND | 1772 | DL | 7 | 53 | 58 | 42,75 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1886 | |||||
13 | 5 | IM | IND | 2204 | DL | 7 | 52,5 | 56,5 | 40,75 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1961 | ||||
14 | 3 | IM | IND | 2241 | HR | 7 | 52 | 56 | 40,5 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1987 | ||||
15 | 28 | U14 | IND | 1747 | DL | 7 | 51,5 | 56,5 | 42 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1874 |