Our Bureau
Guwahati
In a proud moment for Indian chess, 16-year-old Mayank Chakraborty from Assam has become the country’s 94th Grandmaster and the first ever from the Northeast region. He earned his final norm at the 8th GM Tournament in Sweden, topping the field with 7 out of 9 points and crossing the key 2500 FIDE rating mark.
Mayank, born in 2009 in Guwahati’s Pandu area, showed early promise in chess. His mother, Dr. Monomita Chakraborty, a former gynaecologist, spotted his talent at age seven and quit her government job in 2022 to support his dream full-time. She traveled with him to tournaments abroad, handling his health issues like allergies during cold trips, while his father Keshab helped earlier on.
Trained by Rajib Dhar of the All Assam Chess Association, Mayank won three national titles in different age groups. His coach praised his strong tactics, confidence, and fearlessness against top players. The All India Chess Federation chipped in with Rs 2.5 lakh sponsorship last year, aiding his push to GM status after tough times like COVID delays and rating dips.
The win in Sweden came with a round to spare, ending years of hard work. Back home, celebrations erupted in Silchar and Assam, inspiring young players—even Dhar’s daughter wants to follow Mayank’s path to become Assam’s first Woman Grandmaster.
Yet, challenges remain. Elite chess demands big funds for global events, and the family has used up savings. Monomita calls for government and corporate aid to help Mayank aim higher, perhaps reaching top 20 rankings.
