Assam’s Mayank Chakraborty becomes India’s 94th Chess Grandmaster

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New Delhi: Talented youngster from Assam, Mayank Chakraborty became the 94th Grandmaster of the country and the first from India’s North-East region to achieve the coveted title. The 17-year-old boy crossed the final hurdle in style in his glittering career by securing his third and fin al GM norm.

Chakraborty, hailing from Guwahati in Assam, became an International Master back in 2024 and achieved the glorious feat on Saturday with a round to spare in the eighth round of the Hotel Stockholm North by First Hotels Chess Talents Tournament, defeating Swedish IM Philip Lindgren.

Chakraborty on top of his game throughout

In the victory over Lindgren, Chakraborty showcased his to game throughout the contest accumulating the required 6.5 points with ease, that were enough to secure his final Grandmaster norm. In the final round of the contest, he played out a sensational draw with English International Master Jonah B Willow to clinch what was his most remarkable performance to date.

Meanwhile he also crossed the critical 2500 Elo rating mark in the process, with his current rating standing a few points above the threshold, thereby confirming the Grandmaster title as per the rules of the international chess federation, FIDE.

In total, the Indian GM lost one game, drew two and won the remaining six with seven points out of a possible nine, also winning the tournament title in the process with a half-point lead over Norway’s Aksel Bu Kvaloy, ending a superb campaign.

The former India and Asia No.1 in the Under-11 category, had a breakout season in 2021 when he competed in Europe, jumping from an Elo rating in the 1800s to nearing 2200 while also becoming world No.6 in the Elo rankings for boys born on or after 2009.

(With PTI inputs)