Published: 16 March 2026DD News / The Logical IndianSports
Mayank Chakraborty Becomes India's 94th Chess Grandmaster and First-Ever from Northeast India
Sixteen-year-old Mayank Chakraborty from Guwahati, Assam, achieved his final Grandmaster (GM) norm on March 13, 2026, at the First Hotels Young Talents Tournament held in Stockholm, Sweden, finishing first with an impressive score of 7/9. He officially became India's 94th Grandmaster by surpassing the mandatory 2500 FIDE Elo rating threshold, becoming the first-ever Grandmaster from the entire Northeast region of India.
Mayank, who was designated an International Master (IM) prior to this achievement, defeated top-seeded opponents and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. His achievement is a landmark moment for chess in Northeast India, a region that has historically been underrepresented in high-level competitive chess. India, already home to world champion D. Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen's rival R. Praggnanandhaa, has now crossed the 94-GM mark — one of the highest in the world. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Mayank, calling it a proud moment for the state.
0
6-axis classification
CoverageNationalSubjectSportsExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · PrelimsSourceDD News / The Logical Indian
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Linked questionEasy
Mayank Chakraborty became India's which numbered Chess Grandmaster?
Explanation · Correct answer CMayank Chakraborty became India's 94th Chess Grandmaster.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mayank Chakraborty and what historic title did he achieve in 2026?
Mayank Chakraborty is a 16-year-old chess player from Guwahati, Assam, who secured his final GM norm on March 13, 2026, and was set to become India's 94th Chess Grandmaster, at a tournament in Stockholm, Sweden. He is also the first-ever Chess Grandmaster from Northeast India.
How did Mayank Chakraborty qualify for the Grandmaster title?
Chakraborty earned the Grandmaster title by finishing first in the Stockholm tournament with a score of 7 points out of 9 games, thereby meeting the FIDE Grandmaster norm requirements. The FIDE Grandmaster title requires a rating of 2500 and three GM norms.
What is the FIDE Grandmaster title and what are the requirements to earn it?
The Grandmaster (GM) title is the highest title in chess, awarded by FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs / World Chess Federation). To earn it, a player must achieve a FIDE rating of at least 2500 and fulfil three separate Grandmaster performance norms in international tournaments.
Why is Mayank Chakraborty's achievement significant for Northeast India?
Chakraborty became the first Chess Grandmaster from Northeast India, a region that has historically been underrepresented in high-performance competitive chess. His achievement is expected to inspire chess talent development across all eight northeastern states.
What is India's overall standing in world chess and how many Grandmasters does it have?
India is one of the dominant forces in world chess, having produced multiple world champions and one of the largest Grandmaster pools globally. With Chakraborty's achievement, India reached 94 Chess Grandmasters, reflecting the country's deep chess culture and rapid talent development.
