Mayank Chakraborty becomes India’s 94th GM in Sweden
Indian teenager Mayank Chakraborty scripted history on Saturday by becoming India’s 94th chess Grandmaster after winning the Hotel Stockholm North Young Talents event in Stockholm, Sweden, marking the first time a player from Northeast India has achieved the title.
The 16-year-old from Guwahati secured his final GM norm with a strong performance in the tournament, completing a journey shaped by limited sponsorship, long travel distances for competitions and disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
His mother Monomita, who left her job to support his chess career, recalled the difficult period when tournaments stopped. “During Covid there was almost a complete halt to chess for him,” she said, adding that she often found him “sad” without competitions.
Despite the obstacles, Mayank stayed focused on the goal he had chased for years. His historic title not only crowns his personal journey but also opens a new chapter for chess in India’s Northeast.