India's chess community has yet another reason to rejoice as five-year-old Aarini Lahoty of New Delhi has inscribed her name in the record books by becoming India's youngest female player with an International Chess Federation (FIDE) rating. The FIDE announced that Aarini has achieved an impressive starting rating of 1551.
This surpasses the former record held by Udhriti Bhattacharya, who reached her rating at 6 years and 4 months with a rating of 1409.
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"Already making waves at such a young age, Aarini is adding her name to the long list of Indian chess prodigies. This incredible feat testifies to the bright future of Indian chess!" FIDE tweeted on X (formerly Twitter).
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A Record-Breaking Feat
Aarini’s accomplishment is remarkable not only for her age, just 5 years and 10 months, but also for the strength of her rating, which reflects her ability to challenge and defeat older, more seasoned players. It’s a testament to her intelligence, competitive spirit, and early mastery of the game.
This achievement comes in a year of landmarks for Indian chess. Only recently, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh made history as the fourth Indian woman to become a chess grandmaster by defeating Koneru Humpy in the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup final.
Who Is Aarini Lahoty? From Delhi Classrooms to the Global Arena
Born on September 19, 2019, Aarini, a Bluebells School International student, was introduced to the game of chess at an early age. Shepherded by her coaches and relentlessly supported by her family, she soon began competing in local and national competitions.
Her performances in recent official FIDE events secured her spot in the international chess scene, paving the way for a bright future on the global platform.
From school to the boardroom, Aarini Lahoty has yet to take her first step there but is already encouraging a generation of young brains to think big and reach high.
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