Aarav Dengla
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17-year-old Mumbai prodigy Aarav Dengla becomes India's 93rd chess Grandmaster
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Aarav Dengla, a 17-year-old from Mumbai, has become India's 93rd chess Grandmaster and the city's third, achieving the title on February 28, 2026, by securing his final GM norm and reaching a live classical rating of 2506 in Bosnia and Herzegovina tournaments. He is the second Indian GM of 2026, following Aaryan Varshney in January.
Aarav Dengla's journey to becoming India's 93rd chess grandmaster was fueled by his mother's ultimate sacrifice—quitting her job to support him—and inspiration from top Indian players D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, highlighting the personal dedication behind India's booming chess scene.