Pakistan’s rising chess star Rayaan Rehman has achieved another major milestone by earning the prestigious Arena International Master (AIM) title from the International Chess Federation (FIDE), becoming one of the youngest players in Pakistan to achieve this distinction.
At just 10 years old, Rayaan is already regarded as one of the country’s most promising young chess talents. Earlier, he became the youngest Pakistani to achieve the Arena FIDE Master (AFM) title, while also becoming the youngest Pakistani to earn the Arena Candidate Master (ACM) title.
Rayaan has represented Pakistan at multiple international chess events including the:
- Asian Youth International Chess Championship (Kazakhstan)
- Asian Schools Chess Championship 2024 (Bangkok)
- Commonwealth Chess Championship 2025 (Malaysia)
Competing against strong international opposition, Rayaan has secured victories against players from countries including Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Mongolia, and Oman, while also producing strong results against competitors from India, Sri Lanka, and Australia.
His performances in various events have earned praise within Pakistan’s chess community, especially given his ability to compete against much older and more experienced players. Rayaan has built a reputation for excelling in open chess tournaments with no age restrictions, where he has defeated senior and highly seasoned players with decades of competitive chess experience.
His achievements and rapid rise have attracted significant national attention, with features and interviews on major Pakistani media platforms including PTV, Geo News, Express News, Bol News, and other leading outlets.
Beyond chess, Rayaan has also excelled academically and in co-curricular activities. He is a Regional Spelling Bee Champion and recently secured all As and A*s in his Grade 5 final examinations, reflecting his discipline and dedication both inside and outside the classroom.
With multiple FIDE titles already to his name, international representation for Pakistan at such a young age, and consistent performances against elite competition, many believe Rayaan Rehman is on the path to becoming one of Pakistan’s future stars in international chess.
