KOLKATA: The new year brought happy news for Bengal chess as Koustav Chatterjee became the country's 78th Grandmaster late on Saturday night. The Kolkata boy took the state's GM count to double digits by drawing with statemate GM Mirtabha Guha, who incidentally was Bengal's last and ninth GM, in Round 10 of the National chess championship in New Delhi.
Things have changed fast for the 19-year-old boy since the Covid pandemic. It was during the lockdown that the youngster felt the need for a strong body along with a sound mind. He started regular exercise to shed almost 50 kg and a chubby look.
