Parimarjan Negi: Indias Youngest Chess Grandmaster and Scholar

February 8, 2026

New Delhi, February 8: Parimarjan Negi is a revered name in the world of Indian chess. He showcased his extraordinary talent at a remarkably young age. At just 13 years, 4 months, and 20 days old, Negi earned the title of Grandmaster, becoming the second youngest in history to achieve this feat.

Born on February 9, 1993, in New Delhi, Negi quickly mastered the game of chess. In 2002, he won the Under-10 category at the Asian Youth Chess Championship held in Tehran. He secured his first Grandmaster norm at the Hastings International Chess Congress in 2005/06. Completing his second and final Grandmaster norms at the fourth Parsvnath International Open Tournament in Delhi and in Satka, Russia, he made history by becoming India’s youngest Grandmaster, breaking the record previously held by Pentala Harikrishna.

In 2008, he won the Philadelphia International Open Tournament undefeated. The following year, he claimed victories at the Politiken Cup in Copenhagen and the Malaysia Open. In 2010, he triumphed at the National Premier Chess Championship, and in 2012, he became the Asian Chess Champion. He continued to demonstrate his consistency by winning the Capelle-la-Grande Open in 2012 and 2013, and the Politiken Cup for the second time in 2013.

Negi played a crucial role in winning a bronze medal for the Indian team at the Chess Olympiad held in Tromsø, Norway, in 2014. Having been both an Indian and Asian chess champion, he retired from professional chess in 2017.

After retiring from the sport, Negi shifted his focus to education and research. He completed his schooling at Amity International School in New Delhi and graduated with a degree in Mathematics from Stanford University in 2018. Reports indicate that he is set to complete his PhD in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2024.

Negi’s journey from the pinnacle of chess to achieving significant success in education reflects his relentless pursuit of excellence in every field. In recognition of his achievements in chess, the Government of India honored him with the Arjuna Award in 2010.