Anuj Shrivatri Becomes India’s 100th Chess Grandmaster
The 22-year-old achieves historic milestone at the ASEAN Plus Open in Philippines.
1Historic Milestone Reached
Anuj Shrivatri has officially become India’s 100th Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines. This achievement marks a significant moment for Indian chess, occurring 38 years after Viswanathan Anand became the country’s first player to earn the prestigious title back in 1987.
2Background of the Player
The 22-year-old Shrivatri hails from Madhya Pradesh, making him the first chess player from his state to reach this elite level. Beyond his competitive success, he is a Computer Science B.Tech graduate from Lovely Professional University in Punjab, balancing his academic pursuits with the rigorous demands of professional international chess competition.
3Strict Qualification Requirements
To attain the Grandmaster title, a player must complete three specific GM norms and achieve a 2500 Elo rating. These norms require maintaining a 2600+ tournament performance rating over nine rounds in FIDE-approved events. Additionally, players must face opponents from three different federations, ensuring a diverse and highly competitive field of play.
4Rapid Growth in 2026
Shrivatri is the ninth Indian player to secure the Grandmaster title during the 2026 calendar year. This rapid succession of titles highlights the country's growing depth in competitive chess. The momentum is clearly accelerating, as officials and veteran players now look toward the ambitious goal of reaching 200 total Indian Grandmasters.
5Recent Predecessor's Journey
V.S. Rathnavel was confirmed as India’s 99th Grandmaster earlier this month following his performance at the Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026. Although Rathnavel had completed his three required norms back in 2022, he faced a four-year wait to finally reach the mandatory 2500 Elo rating threshold required for the title.
6Legendary Recognition
Viswanathan Anand acknowledged the milestone on social media, noting the poetic timing as the achievement nears the 40th anniversary of his own title. Anand expressed pride in the current generation's progress, emphasizing how the sport has evolved significantly in India since he first paved the way for future players in 1987.
7Official Federation Response
All India Chess Federation President Nitin Narang publicly celebrated the achievement on X, labeling it a proud moment for the nation. The federation continues to monitor the performance of emerging talents across various international tournaments, aiming to sustain the current trajectory of success that has defined the Indian chess scene recently.
8Future Outlook
The achievement of 100 Grandmasters reflects decades of investment and competitive development within the Indian chess ecosystem. As the country continues to produce high-level talent, the focus shifts toward maintaining this pace of growth. Observers are now watching to see how quickly the next hundred titles will be earned by players.
Original article: Sportstar — Anuj Shrivatri Becomes India’s 100th Chess Grandmaster