Mayank Chakraborty Becomes First Grandmaster From North-East
New Delhi : Talented youngster Mayank Chakraborty crossed the last hurdle in his promising career by bagging his third and final GM norm, becoming the 94th Grandmaster and the first person from the North-East region of India to achieve the coveted title. The 17-year-old Chakraborty, who hails from Guwahati in Assam and becomes an International Master in 2024, achieved the feat with one round to spare, beating Swedish IM Philip Lindgren in the eighth round of Hotel Stockholm North in the First Hotels Chess Talent Tournament.
Chakraborty was at the top of his game in his victory over Lindgren, collecting the required 6.5 points, enough to secure the final Grandmaster norm. In the final round he produced his most memorable performance to date, drawing a thrilling draw with British International Master Jonah B Willow.
Chakraborty also crossed the critical 2500 Elo rating mark in the process; His current rating was several points above the threshold, thus confirming the title of Grandmaster according to the rules of the international chess federation FIDE.
Chakraborty lost one match, drew two and won the remaining six matches to finish with seven points out of a possible nine and also clinch the tournament title, half a point ahead of Norway’s Aksel Bu Kvaloy, who won in the final round.
In 2024, Chakraborty became an International Master and became one of the top performers in his age group.
Chakraborty, the former India and Asia No.1 in the Under-11 category, had a breakout season competing in Europe in 2021; His Elo rating is closer to 2200, down from the 1800s, and he is also ranked number 6 in the world in the Elo rankings for boys born in 2009 and later.
His precocious talent also enabled him to emerge as Under-9 national silver medalist and Under-11 national gold medalist, in addition to winning the Under-10 silver medal at the Asian Junior Chess Championship held in Sri Lanka.
His rise was driven by strong family support; While his doctor mother served as a pillar of strength, his father quit his job to travel with him during tournaments.
