Ganguly's grand father, the late Anil Basumallick, taught him chess at the age of 5.
Soon he became very popular in chess circles of Kolkata as he was the youngest player in most tournaments taking place during those days and also won prizes.
In 1991, at the age of 8, he won both the Indian National U-10 and U-12 Championships.
He won these Championships again in 1992 and 1995.

The following are his achievements in the World Youth Chess Championship in his age categories:
World U-10 Championship, Warsaw 1991: Won bronze medal in his first foreign trip, at the age of 8.

World U-10 Championship, Duisburg 1992: He was leading ahead of future stars such as Grischuk, Bacrot and Vallejo Pons only to falter in the last two rounds to finish 6th.

World U-10 Championship, Bratislava 1993: Shared bronze medal with Jakovenko, ahead of Grishchuk.

World U-12 Championship, Szeged 1994: Shared bronze medal with Ponomariev, Vallejo Pons behind Levon Aronian and Bacrot, and ahead of Grishchuk.

World U-12 Championship, St. Lorenzo 1995: Won silver medal behind Bacrot.

In 1995, at the age of 11, he beat a Grandmaster, the youngest player ever to do so until that time.
Ganguly's grand father, the late Anil Basumallick, taught him chess at the age of 5. Soon he became very popular in chess circles of Kolkata as he was the youngest player in most tournaments taking place during those days and also won prizes. In 1991, at the age of 8, he won both the Indian National U-10 and U-12 Championships. He won these Championships again in 1992 and 1995.
The following are his achievements in the World Youth Chess Championship in his age categories:
World U-10 Championship, Warsaw 1991: Won bronze medal in his first foreign trip, at the age of 8.
World U-10 Championship, Duisburg 1992: He was leading ahead of future stars such as Grischuk, Bacrot and Vallejo Pons only to falter in the last two rounds to finish 6th.
World U-10 Championship, Bratislava 1993: Shared bronze medal with Jakovenko, ahead of Grishchuk.
World U-12 Championship, Szeged 1994: Shared bronze medal with Ponomariev, Vallejo Pons behind Levon Aronian and Bacrot, and ahead of Grishchuk.
World U-12 Championship, St. Lorenzo 1995: Won silver medal behind Bacrot.
In 1995, at the age of 11, he beat a Grandmaster, the youngest player ever to do so until that time.
Surya Shekhar Ganguly