Tejas Shekhar Bakre is an Indian chess Grandmaster and is a famed personality in the international chess circuit. He was born on December 12, 1981, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was passionate about chess from an early age, enrolling in the Tal Chess Club in Mumbai to perfect his craft. Bakre won the Asian Junior Chess Championship in 2002 and the World Open Chess Tournament in 2003. He also qualified for the World Chess Championship in 2004. The following year, in 2005, he achieved the prestigious title of Grandmaster, becoming India's 13th Grandmaster.
From 2005 to 2009, Bakre took a break from chess to focus on his medical career. He completed his MBBS degree at the Goa Medical College and later served in the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune. In 2009, Bakre returned to competitive chess, participating in the Commonwealth Chess Championship in Delhi. He won bronze at the 32nd National Team Chess Championship in 2017, further cementing his place in the realm of chess.
Despite his success and fame, Bakre maintains a modest profile and is noted for his polite demeanor and humility. Even today, he continues to play in various national and international chess competitions.