16-year-old chess prodigy Mayank Chakraborty has created history by becoming India’s 94th Grandmaster and the first from Northeast region, marking a landmark moment for Indian chess.
The young International Master secured his final Grandmaster norm at the 8th GM Tournament held at Hotel Stockholm North in Stockholm, Sweden.
With an impressive performance, Mayank finished at the top of the standings with seven points from nine rounds.
During the tournament, he defeated several higher-ranked opponents and maintained an unbeaten run in the closing rounds.
A proud moment for Assam! ♟️
Congratulations to Mayank Chakraborty for becoming the 93rd Grand Master of India and the first from North East & Assam.
Just like the chess board, may you move ahead in your life successfully.
My best wishes and blessings. pic.twitter.com/HLBtgJE0qK
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 13, 2026
His performance also helped him cross the mandatory 2500 rating mark set by FIDE, the global governing body for chess, fulfilling the key requirement for the Grandmaster title.
The achievement makes Mayank the first-ever Grandmaster from Assam and the broader Northeast region of India.
ALSO READ: Second Indian LPG tanker ‘Nanda Devi’ clears Strait of Hormuz amid Middle East tensions
The milestone has triggered celebrations among the sporting community in Silchar and across the state, with many hailing it as a breakthrough moment for chess in the region.
However, officials noted that the formal confirmation of his final Grandmaster norm depends on the participation of his last-round opponent, Willow Jonah B.
If the opponent appears at the board and makes the first move in the scheduled final round, the norm will be officially validated, sealing Mayank’s historic entry into the Grandmaster ranks.
