Northeast India's First Grandmaster: Mayank Chakraborty's Chess Journey
Image Source: Internet
Bengaluru: Mayank Chakraborty, a 16-year-old student of Class 11, has become India's 94th and North East India's first Grandmaster. He achieved this feat in the Hotel Stockholm North by First Hotels young Talents tournament in Stockholm, scoring a rating performance of 2670 and touching a live rating of 2508 Elo.
Mayank's journey to becoming a Grandmaster was not easy. His mother, Dr Monomita, a gynaecologist, had to take him to chess classes at an NGO that ran a chess club when he was just six years old. He initially didn't take to chess, but after trying badminton, he returned to chess and this time it stuck.
Mayank won the Under-17 national title twice, including when he was just 12 years old. In 2023, he became an International Master. However, with no chess ecosystem in the region, the Chakrabortys had to pay players from other parts of the country to travel to Guwahati and spar with Mayank.
Mayank's family had to bear the expenses of travelling to tournaments and hosting Grandmasters for training sessions. They received help from a few individuals and organisations, including Mrityunjay Jalan of Jalan Industries, Group e4, and ChessBase India's HelpChess initiative.
Mayank's coach, GM Swayams Mishra, believes that he has slain some of the demons of self-doubt and trusts himself more now. Mayank's killer instinct is terrific, and he can go a long way if he holds on to his strengths.
Mayank's mother, Monomita, has been his biggest supporter, travelling with him to tournaments and seeking financial help from the state government sports office.
