Indian chess has reached a historic milestone as 22-year-old Anuj Shrivatri of Madhya Pradesh became the country's 100th Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines on November 8, 2026.
His achievement also made him the first chess Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh, adding a significant chapter to the state's sporting history.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: India reaches the historic milestone of 100 chess Grandmasters.
Location: India.
Authority/Organisation: All India Chess Federation and International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Action Taken: Anuj Shrivatri won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship and secured the direct Grandmaster title.
- Impact: India enters the 100-Grandmaster milestone, while Madhya Pradesh celebrates its first chess Grandmaster.
Shrivatri secured the title through his victory at the tournament, which was held in the Philippines. He finished with seven points after nine rounds, recovering strongly from an opening-round defeat to emerge as the champion.
Vietnam's Nguyen Duc Hoa finished second with 6.5 points, while the Philippines' Nouri Alekhine secured third place with six points.
The achievement is particularly significant because India had been approaching the 100-Grandmaster milestone for several months. Shrivatri's victory finally took the country's tally to three digits.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
India's 100th Grandmaster milestone represents the growing strength of the country's chess ecosystem. - National achievement: India has reached a significant landmark in international chess. - Madhya Pradesh: Shrivatri becomes the state's first Grandmaster. - Youth inspiration: His journey can motivate young players to pursue professional chess. - Chess development: The milestone reflects the contribution of coaching, academies and competitive opportunities. - International recognition: India's growing Grandmaster pool strengthens its position in global chess.
A milestone nearly four decades in the making
India's journey towards 100 chess Grandmasters began with Viswanathan Anand, who became the country's first Grandmaster in 1988.
Anand's success helped inspire generations of Indian chess players and contributed to the growth of a competitive chess ecosystem across the country.
India's Grandmaster count expanded gradually in the early years before accelerating significantly in recent times. Several players earned the title during 2026, bringing the country closer to the landmark achievement.
Before Shrivatri, V.S. Rathanvel had become India's 99th Grandmaster in July 2026. Shrivatri's latest triumph completed the milestone.
Who is Anuj Shrivatri?
Anuj Shrivatri is a 22-year-old chess player from Madhya Pradesh. He had already earned the International Master title and had been competing in national and international tournaments.
His journey reflects years of preparation, competitive experience and commitment to chess.
A profile published by The Indian Express on November 9 highlighted that Shrivatri had completed a B.Tech degree specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and had also worked as a software engineer for a German company.
He eventually chose to focus on professional chess rather than continue pursuing a conventional software career.
His family's support and the guidance of coaches and mentors also played an important role in his development as a competitive player.
A special route to the Grandmaster title
Shrivatri earned the Grandmaster title through the tournament's special FIDE-approved direct-title provision.
This is an important distinction because the conventional Grandmaster route generally requires players to achieve three GM norms across at least 27 games and reach a FIDE rating of 2,500.
The ASEAN Plus championship offered a direct Grandmaster title to its winner under specified eligibility conditions.
The achievement therefore represents a legitimate tournament-based title award, but it should not be confused with the conventional three-norm qualification route.
A new chapter for Indian chess
India reaching 100 Grandmasters reflects the country's growing presence in international chess.
The achievement highlights the contribution of players, coaches, academies, families and sporting institutions that have helped strengthen the competitive chess environment.
For Madhya Pradesh, Shrivatri's success is particularly meaningful because he becomes the state's first Grandmaster.
His achievement may also encourage more young players from smaller cities and emerging chess centres to pursue the sport professionally.
