Meet Aarini Lahoty, youngest Indian girl to earn FIDE chess rating
(Courtesy : WorldChess.com)
At just 5 years and 10 months old, Aarini Lahoty secures FIDE rating of 1553.
Another wonderful chapter in India’s chess legacy has been written — and this time, by one of its youngest. Aarini Lahoty, a five-year-old girl from Delhi, has officially become India’s youngest FIDE-rated female chess player at just 5 years and 10 months old.
Aarini with 1551 FIDE rating breaks the previous record set by Udhriti Bhattacharya of West Bengal, who earned her rating at 6 years and 4 months earlier this year.
What’s even more impressing is the fact that Aarini’s chess journey began merely six months ago when she enrolled at the IGSF Chess Academy. The interest quickly transformed into a passion.
Aarini is the granddaughter of the late Shri Vijay Kumar Lahoty and Shrimati Indu Devi Lahoty, and the daughter of Surendra and Shalu Lahoty.
She is currently a student of Bluebells School International, New Delhi. Her family noticed the talent and took her passion to meet with others at several competitions.
At just 5, she has already yielded 11 trophies and multiple medals.
She has competed at the National Championships in both the Under-7 and Under-9 categories, and also showcased her talent at the Delhi State Championships across U-9, U-11, and U-13 age groups.
Aarini earned her FIDE rating by participating in prestigious tournaments such as the Delhi International Open (Category C), the 1st Assam University Championship, ECA International, and the 2nd New Delhi International Open, steadily proving her consistency and skill on the competitive stage.
In the male’s category, India has the 4-year-old Anish Sarkar, who became the youngest FIDE-rated player not only in the country but entire world, at just 3 years old in November 2024. This feat also earned him the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in the 2025 National Sports Awards.
Who is Aarini Lahoty?
Aarini Lahoty is a five-year-old girl from Delhi who has hit the limelight as the youngest FIDE-rated female chess player from India. She earned her FIDE rating at the age of 5 years and 10 months old.
Who is India’s youngest female FIDE-rated chess player?
Aarini Lahoty, a five years and 10 months old, is India’s youngest female FIDE-rated player.
Who is India’s youngest male FIDE-rated chess player?
Anish Sarkar holds that record. He earned his FIDE rating at the age of 3.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.
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