Who is Aronyak Ghosh? Kolkata's 22-year-old prodigy now India's 95th chess grandmaster

India's rapid rise in chess continues with Aronyak Ghosh from Kolkata officially becoming the country's 95th Grandmaster and joining the pool of elite talents. On Sunday, Ghosh tied for the top spot at the 23rd Bangkok Chess Club with seven out of nine points to secure his third GM norm.

He had previously received his first GM norm at the Sants Open in 2023 and his second at the 2024 Annemasse Masters, and had to wait four years to receive his third and final norm.

Who is Aronyak Ghosh?

Aronyak is the son of Mrinal Ghosh, a former chess player-turned arbiter, and Sanchita Ghosh, a lawyer. Raised in a middle-class family, Aronyak made rapid strides early in his chess career, winning a bronze medal at the 2019 Under-16 World Youth Championship.

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In the under-16s event, Ghosh defeated USA's Hans Niemann in round nine in 42 moves, displaying unmatched strategic brilliance. He went on to become the national rapid champion this year.

Coming from a modest background, Mrinal made sacrifices by selling off family belongings to ensure his son could take part in tournaments and keep his passion for the game alive. Aronyak's mother, Sanchita, would travel with him to tournaments.

The 22-year-old is pursuing BA at Prafulla Chandra College and is employed with the Eastern Railway.

Aronyak has grasped the skill of playing against lower-rated opposition in India, something that several other players are not comfortable doing. The 22-year-old has had a career-high Elo of 2555, while his live rating stands at 2541, showcasing his exceptional talent in the game.

Ghosh was also part of the FIDE World Cup in 2025, securing a first-round victory over Polish GM Mateusz Bartel and was in action against Armenian-American GM Levon Aronian before bowing out.

Aronyak's mother expressed her thoughts

Sanchita expressed her relief as a parent after Aronyak finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a GM, saying that their hard work and dedication had finally paid off.

"It is entirely a relief. As parents, after leaving everything behind, even setting aside academics, this is a huge relief for us. It means that what we committed to has finally succeeded," Aronyak’s mother, Sanchita told TimesofIndia.com.

With R Vaishali winning the women's 2026 Candidates tournament and D Gukesh gearing up to defend his title at the World Chess Championship, Aronyak's arrival as India's 95th GM continues to elevate India's future in chess.