KARIMNAGAR, AUGUST 17, 2026: A 15-year-old chess prodigy from Karimnagar town has become the youngest person to earn a current FIDE rating of 2304.2 and is racing to become the youngest Grand Master very soon.
Sree Shaunak Chanda, a tenth-class student from ZPHS in Karimnagar, started playing chess at the age of eight years only. His parents, Prasad and Apoorva, provided formal coaching in Karimnagar town. Later, he was provided training at Race Chess Academy under the guidance of Rama Raju in Hyderabad.
He had participated in several state- and national-level competitions and defeated several players. Sree Shaunak Chanda, a talented young chess player, has brought immense pride with his remarkable achievements on the international chess circuit.
Sree Shaunak participated in the International chess tournaments from 2nd July to 1st August 2026, in Spain, where he defeated several international players and gained 850 FIDE Elo rating points. During this period, he achieved the prestigious Candidate Master (CM) and FIDE Master (FM) titles and crossed the remarkable 2321 FIDE classical rating.
His notable performances in Spain include:
VII Open Valencia – Group A, Valencia
Sant Martà 2026 – Group A, Barcelona
50 Open Vila de Sitges – Group A, Sitges
As of August 2026, Shaunak achieved a career-high classical FIDE rating of 2321+. He has also made his mark internationally, securing a Top 12 position among Under-17 players in the world by rating.
Other Notable Achievements
Odisha Open Grandmasters Chess Festival 2025–26, Category A – gained 102 Elo rating points
62nd National Chess Championship 2025 – gained 32 Elo rating points
Goa International Open Grandmaster Tournament – gained 47 Elo rating points
15th KIIT International Chess Festival, Category A Open – gained 50 Elo rating points
Shaunak’s remarkable rise from a young chess enthusiast to an internationally recognised CM & FM, with a 2321+ classical rating, is a testament to his dedication, hard work, discipline and passion for the game.
Congratulations to Sree Shaunak Chanda on his outstanding achievements, and best wishes for many more victories on the international chess stage!
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