A chess prodigy is a young child who possesses an aptitude for the game of chess that far exceeds what might be expected at their age. Their prodigious talent will often enable them to defeat experienced adult players and even titled chess masters. Some chess prodigies have progressed to become grandmasters or even World Chess Champions.

Early chess prodigies included Paul Morphy (1837–1884) and José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), both of whom won matches against strong adult opponents at the age of 12, and Samuel Reshevsky (1911–1992), who was giving simultaneous exhibitions at the age of six. Morphy went on to become the world's leading player before the formal title of World Champion existed. Capablanca became the third World Champion, and Reshevsky—while never attaining the title—was amongst the world's elite players for many decades.

Arturo Pomar (1931–2016) was another to be labelled a prodigy by chess writers. He played his first international tournament (Madrid 1943) at the age of 11 and went on to become Spain's first grandmaster.

Jutta Hempel (born 1960) at the age of 6 played 12 simultaneous games and won 9.5-2.5.

There is often widespread attention when a young player defeats a Grandmaster, whether in a standard tournament game or less formal conditions.

The youngest player to defeat a grandmaster under standard time controls is Ashwath Kaushik of Singapore, who in February 2024 defeated Jacek Stopa at the age of 8 years, 6 months, and 11 days.

The previous record was set by Leonid Ivanovic of Serbia, who in January 2024 defeated Milko Popchev at the Novogodisnji rating ŠSB in Belgrade, Serbia at the age of 8 years, 11 months, and 7 days.

In January 2025, Aarit Kapil of India became the third youngest player worldwide to defeat a Grandmaster under classical time controls, at the age of 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days old.