The chess world is buzzing after a jaw-dropping performance by Candidate Master Aarit Kapil, a 9-year-old prodigy from New Delhi, who came within a whisker of defeating none other than Magnus Carlsen—the world’s top-ranked player—during Chess.com’s Titled Tuesday tournament on June 24.

Playing under the online handle @Drstrange2015, Aarit held his own in a wild tactical battle against Carlsen, forcing the former World Champion to settle for a dramatic draw in mutual time pressure. It’s a result that has sent waves across both the Indian and global chess communities.

Magnus Carlsen is his hero Aarit’s father Vijay Kapil, shared in an interview. After the game, he was jumping and sharing his joy. He was super excited.

Aarit’s current FIDE rating of 2078 and his Candidate Master title may sound modest on paper, but don’t be fooled—the young star already boasts a peak blitz rating of 2765 on Chess.com, a level many seasoned grandmasters aspire to.

In the Titled Tuesday blitz event, it was round two that drew worldwide attention. Carlsen, playing White, launched an aggressive assault on Aarit’s kingside. But the child prodigy counterattacked with remarkable confidence. At one point, Aarit had a winning advantage, maneuvering a rook and two passed pawns against Carlsen’s scattered pieces and exposed king. However, as the clock ticked down, both players slipped into errors. The game ultimately ended in a draw.

Still, the result was nothing short of historic.

Aarit Kapil, who only learned the game four years ago, is now being hailed as one of India’s brightest young chess hopes. He ranks ninth in the world among players born in 2015 or later, a group led by Roman Shogdzhiev, the youngest international master in history.

Just a few months ago, Aarit made headlines again when he defeated GM Raset Ziatdinov in a classical tournament—the 15th KIIT International Chess Festival in Bhubaneswar—becoming one of the youngest players in history to do so.

Within a week of learning chess, he beat me,” his father recalled. “That’s when I knew there was something special in him.

Since then, the child spends up to six hours a day studying the game, eschewing video games or television in favor of chess. “He just loves chess. Chess is his passion,” his father says.

Despite his age, Aarit is already playing against top grandmasters like Arjun Erigaisi and Pablo Salinas, and earning wins. His performance in the June 24 event—scoring 7 out of 11—is evidence that this is not a one-time spark. This is the emergence of a new force in global chess.

With such talent, work ethic, and love for the game, it may not be long before Aarit moves from facing world champions to becoming one himself.