Anuj Shrivatri has become India’s 100th chess Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open in the Philippines. The 22-year-old from Katni, Madhya Pradesh, is also the first Grandmaster from his state.
India’s first Grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, earned the title in 1988. Reaching the 100-player mark nearly four decades later reflects the growth of competitive chess across the country.
Shrivatri’s tournament did not begin smoothly. He lost his first-round game, then recovered to score seven points from the remaining eight rounds and finish with seven points out of nine.
A comeback at the tournament
The victory put Shrivatri half a point ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Duc Hoa. It also earned him the Grandmaster title through a direct route available under special tournament conditions approved by the international chess federation.
The usual route to the title involves earning three Grandmaster norms across at least 27 games and reaching a rating of 2,500. A direct-title event can provide another path when its format meets the required criteria.
A strong performance after an early loss requires both consistency and composure. Shrivatri’s result came from maintaining a high score across the rest of the event rather than relying on a single dramatic win.
From Katni to international chess
Shrivatri began playing chess as a child, after his father introduced him to the game. He trained with several coaches as he progressed through junior and national-level competitions.
He also pursued engineering, completing a BTech with a specialisation in artificial intelligence and machine learning. After graduating, he worked as a software engineer for a German company.
Balancing a demanding job with the eight or nine hours of daily preparation often needed for elite chess became difficult. Shrivatri chose to leave the software role and focus on chess full-time, with his family supporting the decision.
That choice involved financial uncertainty. His parents made sacrifices over the years to support tournament travel, which can be expensive for players seeking international competition experience.
Why the 100th title matters
A country’s number of Grandmasters does not measure every aspect of its chess development, but it is a visible milestone. It reflects the number of players who have reached one of the game’s highest competitive titles.
India’s chess base has expanded through clubs, school programmes, coaching and access to online play. Continued success also depends on pathways that allow young players to compete, receive coaching and afford travel to tournaments.
For Madhya Pradesh, Shrivatri’s achievement provides a first Grandmaster milestone. It may also draw more attention to the state’s chess community and the training opportunities available to younger players.
The next stage
The title recognises Shrivatri’s tournament achievement, but it does not mark the end of his competitive career. Grandmasters continue to compete in national and international events, where maintaining form and improving rating remain ongoing challenges.
His journey also shows the personal choices behind elite sport. Leaving a conventional career for chess required confidence in his ability and support from his family.
India’s 100th Grandmaster is therefore both a national chess milestone and an individual accomplishment. Shrivatri’s tournament comeback, years of preparation and decision to commit fully to the game brought him to the historic mark.