From Chess to Grandmaster: Mayank’s Inspiring Journey to Becoming Northeast India’s First GM

From Chessboard to Grandmaster: Mayank Chakraborty’s Inspiring Journey

Stockholm, Sweden — In a remarkable turn of events, 16-year-old Mayank Chakraborty has made history by becoming India’s 94th Grandmaster and the first from North East India. His journey, marked by determination and resilience, began with a simple suggestion from a colleague of his mother, Dr. Monomita Chakraborty, an ENT specialist.

While Monomita was away for patient consultations, her colleague recommended chess to channel Mayank’s sharp mind and restless energy. Initially hesitant, Monomita enrolled him in a local NGO chess club. However, after a disappointing first tournament at the age of six, Mayank shifted his focus to badminton, inspired by the success of PV Sindhu at the 2016 Olympics. But after enduring rigorous training sessions that prioritized fitness over play, he soon returned to chess, this time with renewed vigor.

Fast forward to this weekend, Mayank clinched his final Grandmaster norm at the Hotel Stockholm North by First Hotels young Talents tournament, achieving an impressive rating performance of 2670 and a live rating of 2508 Elo. “It was Mayank’s goal to become the first GM from the Northeast. The journey was challenging, but he’s finally achieved it, and it’s just the beginning,” Monomita shared from Stockholm.

Mayank’s accolades include winning the Under-17 national title twice, with his first victory at just 12 years old. His path to becoming a Grandmaster was not without hurdles; the lack of a chess ecosystem in the North East meant that his family had to bring in players from other regions for training. They hosted Grandmasters for individual camps and sought financial support from various organizations, including Mrityunjay Jalan of Jalan Industries and ChessBase India’s HelpChess initiative.

Despite the financial strain—Monomita has liquidated most of her fixed deposits to support Mayank’s chess journey—she remains hopeful that his Grandmaster title will attract sponsorship and attention to the region’s budding chess talent. “We’re hoping his GM title will help call attention,” she said.

As Mayank continues to hone his skills, his tenacity and killer instinct have impressed many, including Grandmaster Swayams Mishra, who believes that Mayank has overcome self-doubt and is now ready to take on greater challenges.

With dreams of further success ahead, Mayank Chakraborty stands as a beacon of hope for aspiring chess players in North East India, proving that with passion and perseverance, even the most ambitious goals can be achieved.