March 14, 2026 : History has been made for Indian chess as Assam’s Mayank Chakraborty became the first-ever Grandmaster from the state and the entire Northeast region of the country.

The 16-year-old International Master secured his final Grandmaster norm at the 8th GM Tournament held at Hotel Stockholm North in Sweden on Friday. With this achievement, Mayank has become India’s 94th Grandmaster.

Mayank delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament, finishing in first place with an impressive score of 7 points out of 9 rounds. He defeated several top-seeded players and remained unbeaten in the final rounds, demonstrating remarkable composure and skill.

Along with securing the final norm required for the title, Mayank also crossed the mandatory FIDE rating barrier of 2500, officially confirming his Grandmaster status.

His historic achievement has sparked celebrations in Silchar, his hometown, and across Assam. Members of the sports community and chess enthusiasts have hailed the moment as a landmark for the region.

The milestone is expected to inspire young players in the Northeast and further strengthen the growth of chess in the region, showing that with dedication and perseverance, players from every corner of the country can reach the highest levels of the game.