Anuj Shrivatri Becomes India's 100th Chess Grandmaster
International Master Anuj Shrivatri of Madhya Pradesh secured the Grandmaster title after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship. The triumph established Shrivatri as India's 100th chess Grandmaster while concurrently making him the first player from Madhya Pradesh to attain the honor. The young master mounted a determined comeback after enduring a defeat during his opening match of the international competition in Ozamiz City. He subsequently amassed seven points across his concluding eight rounds to finish alone at the summit of the tournament standings. The historic achievement completes a generational trajectory for Indian chess that commenced when Viswanathan Anand became the nation's inaugural Grandmaster.
Tournament Comeback and Final Standings in Ozamiz City
Shrivatri concluded the championship half a point ahead of Vietnam's Nguyen Duc Hoa, while Alekhine Nouri of the Philippines finished third. Tournament records indicate that Shrivatri entered the concluding rounds with the championship hanging in the balance before winning his final two contests. By capturing the individual tournament crown in the Philippines, Shrivatri secured the direct Grandmaster title under international chess regulations. The triumph arrived on the auspicious festive day of Diwali, providing added celebration across the Indian chess community. Shrivatri had previously made sporting history within his home state by becoming Madhya Pradesh's youngest International Master in 2020.
National Acclaim and Historic Context Since Viswanathan Anand
Congratulating the newly minted champion, All India Chess Federation President Nitin Narang praised the accomplishment on social media platform X. The federation chief described the milestone as a proud chapter for Indian sporting history and looked ahead toward reaching 200 Grandmasters. The achievement ended national anticipation following July, when VS Rathanvel became India's 99th Grandmaster after surpassing the 2500 rating threshold. Rathanvel had secured his breakthrough at the Guwahati Smart City International Open 2026, setting the stage for Shrivatri's crowning moment. Indian chess enthusiasts and regional sports bodies celebrated the arrival of the country's centenary Grandmaster. Anuj Shrivatri won tournaments including the 2nd Khelo Chess India Rapid and Blitz and the 2nd Rejoice Chanakya CTF Fide Rapid Rating 2026, according to ChessBase India. Viswanathan Anand congratulated Anuj Shrivatri on becoming India's 100th Grandmaster, describing the accomplishment as a cracker of a 100, according to The Tribune. India produced its last five Grandmasters (96th to 100th) in five months between July 2026 and November 2026, according to Rediff.
FIDE Grandmaster Title Standards and Regulations
The Grandmaster rank represents the supreme competitive title awarded by the International Chess Federation, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Earning the regular title typically mandates securing three separate tournament norms across 27 games alongside achieving a published rating above 2500 points. Each qualifying norm generally requires competing across at least nine rounds with a minimum tournament performance rating of 2600. Players must face fields featuring at least 33% grandmaster opponents hailing from three or more international federations. Shrivatri's direct title victory circumvents multi-year norm pursuits, anchoring his name permanently in Indian chess lore.