Akshat Chandra is a renowned Indian-American chess Grandmaster (GM) who became a GM at the age of 16 in 2016. Born in Morristown, New Jersey, Chandra developed a passion for the game at a young age and has scored significant achievements in the chess world. He won the K-9 SuperNationals in 2013 and became the U.S Junior Chess Champion in 2015.
Chandra's career took a significant turn when he was chosen by the Kasparov Chess Foundation as a Young Star in 2013. He earned his initial FIDE, or International Chess Federation, Master title in 2012 and International Master (IM) title in 2014. Later, by 2016, he officially became a Grandmaster after achieving the required number of norms and a limited rating.
Beyond the game, Chandra is also known for his blog "Quest to GM" that documented his journey to become a Grandmaster. He has also been involved in a few controversies, including a case of plagiarism and an alleged cheating accusation in a chess tournament.