Aarit Kapil wins 1st Shri P L Sharma Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2026

CM Aarit Kapil, CM Vandan Alankar Sawai and GM Aaryan Varshney scored 8/9 each at 1st Shri P L Sharma Memorial Rapid Rating Open 2026. Aarit won the tournament on tie-breaks, Vandan and Aaryan were placed second and third respectively. The total prize fund was ₹400000 + trophies. The top three prizes were ₹30000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 along with a trophy each. This is Aarit’s second overall, first rating tournament triumph of the year.

10-year-old Delhi State Under-15 Open 2026 champion shines

CM Aarit Kapil and CM Vandan Alankar Sawai were the coleaders 7.5/8 each, heading into the final round. The newly crowned Delhi State Under-15 Open 2026 champion, Aarit drew against Vandan to become the champion, Vandan finished second. FM Mahir Taneja lost to GM Aaryan Varshney and the latter finished third.

Champion – CM Aarit Kapil 8/9 | Photo: IA Shardul Sharma

Runner-up – CM Vandan Alankar Sawai 8/9 | Photo: IA Shardul Sharma

Second Runner-up – GM Aaryan Varshney 8/9 | Photo: IA Shardul Sharma

Top 3 (L to R): 3rd GM Aaryan Varshney 8/9, 1st CM Aarit Kapil 8/9 and 2nd CM Vandan Alankar Sawai 8/9 | Photo: IA Shardul Sharma

CM Aarit Kapil scored an unbeaten 8/9, won the tournament on tie-breaks and gained 59.2 Elo rating points

The tournament hall at Sadhu Vaswani International School for Girls in New Delhi | Photo: IA Shardul Sharma

A total of 410 players including a GM and three IMs took part from all over the country, one from Canada, Spain and USA each. The two-day nine-round Rapid Rating Open tournament was organized by Queen Chess Academy at Sadhu Vaswani International School for Girls in New Delhi on 31st January and 1st February 2026. The time control of the tournament was 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment.

Final standings

Details