Aarav Dengla: Mumbai’s Rising Star Becomes India’s 93rd Chess Grandmaster
Mumbai Teenager Aarav Dengla Becomes India’s 93rd Chess Grandmaster
Last Updated: March 02, 2026, 08:45 IST
In a remarkable achievement for Indian chess, 17-year-old Aarav Dengla from Mumbai has officially become the country’s 93rd Grandmaster. This milestone was reached after he triumphed at the GM Mix Bijeljina and GM-norm Round Robin Tournament held in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend.
Aarav’s journey to the Grandmaster title was marked by determination and skill. He secured his third and final Grandmaster norm, pushing his classical live rating to an impressive 2506, thereby fulfilling all the criteria necessary for the coveted title. His achievement follows closely on the heels of fellow chess prodigy Aaryan Varshney, who became a Grandmaster in January.
The young chess star first made waves in the chess community in 2022, when he earned his initial Grandmaster norm at the 1st International GM Tournament Bijeljina. He followed this up with a second norm at the Zupanja Celebrates Chess GM-norm Round Robin in Croatia in 2025. Among his other accolades, Aarav clinched the Grand Paris Masters Championship in 2024 and dominated the FIDE World Schools Rapid and Blitz titles in the same year.
Aarav, a student at Dhirubhai Ambani International School, began his chess journey at the tender age of five, inspired by his mother. “I started learning chess when I was five. I played my first few-day tournaments when I was six. Since then, I have always been in love with the game,” he shared in a 2022 interview with Chess.com.
His passion for chess quickly evolved from a childhood hobby to a serious pursuit. “After a while, I began playing in FIDE tournaments, and that is when I wanted to get a bit further into chess and become a grandmaster,” he added.
As Aarav Dengla joins the ranks of India’s elite chess players, his story serves as an inspiration to aspiring chess enthusiasts across the nation. With his talent and dedication, the future looks bright for this young Grandmaster.
For more updates on Aarav and the world of chess, stay tuned!