Tanmay Rajbongshi dominates with 9/9 at 1st Haflong FIDE Rapid Rating 2026
Tanmay Rajbongshi dominated the field at the 1st Haflong FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament 2026. Tanmay scored a perfect score of 9/9 to secure first place in the event. Second place was secured by Dhar Rajib with 8/9 points, and Iftikar Alom Mazumdar scored 7.5/9 points to finish in third place. The total prize fund of the event was ₹1,00,000, with the top three prizes of ₹15,000, ₹10,000, and ₹8,000. The 1st Haflong FIDE International Rapid Rating Chess Tournament was successfully held on 8th February 2026 at NL Daulagupu Stadium, Haflong, Dima Hasao. The tournament was organized by the District Sports Office, Dima Hasao, in association with the Dima Hasao Chess Association. Photos: Ronit Dey/Dima Hasao Chess Association
Tanmay Rajbongshi is the current North Eastern States Chess Champion!
Tanmay won the 23rd North Eastern States Chess Championship 2025, with a clear half-point lead, in December 2025, and that win helped him regain his confidence. He finally scored 9/9 points for the first time in a rating tournament in his chess career.
Read the Interview with Tanmay below!
A very insightful interview with Tanmay Rajbongshi
Devansh Singh (DS): Hello tanmay, how does it feel to win this tournament?
Tanmay Rajbongshi (TR): It feels very nice, I remember 2 months ago I was trying really hard to win a rating event though I was getting closer and closer of winning the tournament but in the end there was always a heartbreak. But then, Everything changed when I won the 23rd Northeast Chess Championship, My first Rating tournament victory. Since then, I regain my confidence and play even better. This victory in 1st Haflong Rapid Rating Chess tournament 2026 is very special for me because this was the first Rating tournament where I won 9 games in a row. So, It was really a very happy moment for me.
(DS): Which match was the toughest for you and why?
(TR): My toughest matches in this tournament were actually the 1st and 2nd round of the tournament. It was shocking for me also that how are these 1400 rated kids playing so good. In the 1st round I had to find a win in a drawn rook endgame and in the 2nd round I had to play on time in pawn down Queen endgame. Even though I won those matches I had struggle till the very end. Once I got the momentum the later rounds became a bit easier for me.
(DS): What is one lesson this tournament taught you?
(TR): This tournament showed me that we shouldn't doubt on ourselves. I used to think that I am really bad in rapid and blitz time control but my previous blitz tournament and this rapid tournament prove that I play the best in classical and I am getting better in rapid and blitz also.
(DS): Anything else you'd like to share, maybe a game from the event?
(TR): In the 2nd round I was dominating the game right from the beginning but I was unable to convert the advantage into win. This later on backfired as I got low on time and started making small mistakes. Eventually the game turned into a Queen endgame where I was down a pawn also down on time. But still I didn't accept a draw and play as long as I can trying every single trick that is possible in the position but nothing worked I almost loss hope of winning this game then suddenly I saw that My opponent run out of time.
This game taught me 3 things:-i) If you have an advantage but don't know what to do just try to improve your position instead of finding a immediate win. Don't waste time.
ii) Play till the very end and try every single resources because it takes only 1 mistake of your opponent for you to win the game.
iii)Put pressure on your opponent on time also because time is also an important factor in chess, specially in rapid and blitz.
A total of 129 players from Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand participated in the tournament.
The tournament was formally inaugurated in the august presence of Sri John Phoitong, MAC, Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, Sri Thai-tsho Daw Daulagupu IAS, General Secretary, Dima Hasao Sports Association, Sri Rajib Dhar, General Secretary, All Assam Chess Association, along with officials from various district chess associations of Assam.
The event was successfully conducted under the leadership of Sri Zagir Khan, President, Dima Hasao Chess Association, Sri George Chutia, District Sports Officer, Dima Hasao, along with the dedicated efforts of all members of the Dima Hasao Chess Association.
The tournament was officiated by International Arbiter Dr. Charvak as the Chief Arbiter, with International Arbiter Anupam Bhattacharjee as the Deputy Chief Arbiter. The panel of arbiters also included FA Ravi Kant Tiwari, FA Sanjay Das, and SNA Anup Kumar Rai. Smt. Probita Johori, EM (Sports), Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, chaired the tournament, while Senior National Arbiter Sri Ronit Dey served as the Tournament Director.
Final Ranking after 9 Rounds
Rk. | SNo | Name | Typ | sex | Gr | RtgI | Club/City | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | TB4 | TB5 | TB6 | K | rtg+/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | U15 | 1897 | AS | 9 | 48,5 | 53,5 | 53,5 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 40 | 89,2 | ||||
2 | 1 | 2007 | AS | 8 | 52 | 56 | 49 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 8,4 | |||||
3 | 3 | 1904 | AS | 7,5 | 55,5 | 59,5 | 46,5 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 24,6 | |||||
4 | 9 | S56 | 1754 | AS | 7 | 51,5 | 55,5 | 40 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 5,6 | ||||
5 | 14 | 1698 | AS | 7 | 48 | 50 | 33,5 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 22 | |||||
6 | 6 | 1818 | AS | 7 | 46 | 49,5 | 35,5 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 1,6 | |||||
7 | 22 | 1607 | AS | 7 | 44 | 46,5 | 32 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 40 | 44,4 | |||||
8 | 30 | U13 | 1568 | AS | 7 | 40,5 | 41,5 | 28,5 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 70,8 | ||||
9 | 15 | AFM | U13 | 1670 | AS | 6,5 | 47 | 53,5 | 35,75 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 68 | |||
10 | 7 | 1786 | AS | 6,5 | 47 | 53,5 | 35,5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 20 | 25 | |||||
11 | 21 | 1633 | AS | 6,5 | 47 | 49,5 | 31,75 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 25,4 | |||||
12 | 54 | U13 | 1469 | AS | 6,5 | 46,5 | 50,5 | 34,25 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 40 | 45,2 | ||||
13 | 17 | 1665 | AS | 6 | 45,5 | 51,5 | 30,5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 40 | 51,6 | |||||
14 | 42 | 1522 | TR | 6 | 45,5 | 50 | 30,75 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 36,4 | |||||
15 | 11 | 1725 | AS | 6 | 45,5 | 48 | 27 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 2,6 |