Key points
- Anuj Shrivatri became India’s 100th chess Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines, on November 8, 2026.
- The 22-year-old from Madhya Pradesh also became the first Grandmaster from the state.
- Shrivatri scored seven points from nine rounds, recovering from a defeat in the opening round and winning his final two games.
- Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand congratulated Shrivatri, calling the achievement “a cracker of a 100” in a Diwali message on X.
- All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang described the achievement as a historic milestone and said India should aim for 200 Grandmasters.
- India’s first Grandmaster was Anand, who earned the title in 1987; the country has now reached the 100-player milestone.
- VS Rathanvel became India’s 99th Grandmaster in July 2026, before Shrivatri completed the landmark.
Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has congratulated Anuj Shrivatri after the Madhya Pradesh player became India’s 100th Grandmaster, calling the achievement “a cracker of a 100”. Shrivatri reached the landmark by winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines, on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The result also made him the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.
Anand shared his message on X on Diwali, welcoming the milestone and reflecting on the approaching 40th anniversary of his own Grandmaster title. Shrivatri’s achievement marks a significant moment for Indian chess, nearly four decades after Anand became the country’s first Grandmaster.
Anand celebrates India’s 100th Grandmaster
Anand’s message combined congratulations with a personal reflection on the history of Indian chess. The former world champion wrote: “Happy Diwali. A cracker of a 100. Congrats to @AnujShrivatri on getting India to this milestone.” He added that he had been thinking about December 2027, which will mark 40 years since he earned the Grandmaster title.
Anand became India’s first Grandmaster in 1987 after winning the Shakti Finance International chess tournament in Coimbatore. His success helped establish a pathway for Indian players on the international stage and inspired generations to pursue chess professionally.
The 100th Grandmaster milestone is especially meaningful because the country’s tally had been approaching the landmark over recent months. Shrivatri’s achievement on Diwali gave Indian chess a symbolic moment to celebrate, while also putting Madhya Pradesh on the national Grandmaster map for the first time.
Shrivatri wins ASEAN Plus championship after opening defeat
Shrivatri secured the title by winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. According to tournament reports, he began with a defeat in the opening round but recovered to score seven points from the remaining eight games. He won his final two rounds when the tournament outcome was still in the balance.
His final score of seven points from nine rounds was enough to win the championship, finishing half a point ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Duc Hoa. The victory also completed the achievement that made him India’s 100th Grandmaster and the first from his home state to earn the title.
The tournament performance highlighted his ability to recover from an early setback and maintain consistency through the remaining rounds. ChessBase India reported that he secured the direct Grandmaster title through the championship victory.
A milestone for Madhya Pradesh and Indian chess
Shrivatri’s success carries significance beyond the national count. Madhya Pradesh had been waiting for its first Grandmaster, and the 22-year-old has now become the state’s pioneer at the highest open title level in chess.
He earned the International Master title in 2020 and had been viewed as a player capable of making the next step. Six years later, his victory in the Philippines completed that progression. The achievement also adds to the growing spread of elite chess talent across India.
All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang congratulated Shrivatri and described the achievement as a proud moment for Indian chess. In his message, Narang called him “Grandmaster No. 100 for Bharat” and expressed the hope that the country would move towards 200 Grandmasters next.
From Anand’s first title to India’s 100th
India’s journey to 100 Grandmasters began with Anand’s breakthrough in 1987. The Indian Express noted that the country’s first Grandmaster title came after Anand won the Shakti Finance International tournament in Coimbatore. The milestone count has accelerated in recent years, with the 99th title going to VS Rathanvel in July 2026.
Rathanvel crossed the 2500 Elo rating mark at the Guwahati Smart City International Open, bringing India within one of the landmark figure. Shrivatri then completed the century by winning in the Philippines. The sequence reflects the expanding pool of Indian players capable of competing for top international titles.
Hindustan Times reported that 38 of India’s 100 Grandmasters are from Tamil Nadu, underlining the state’s strong contribution to the country’s chess growth. Anand also told the publication that India’s Grandmaster count had grown from around 30 fifteen years earlier to 100 in 2026.
What the 100th title means for Indian chess
The milestone is both a celebration of individual achievement and a marker of the sport’s development in India. Shrivatri’s win gives Madhya Pradesh its first Grandmaster, while Anand’s public congratulations connect the latest success with the generation that helped build Indian chess’s international reputation.
The AICF’s stated ambition of reaching 200 Grandmasters sets a new target for the national chess community. Shrivatri’s breakthrough demonstrates that the next phase of growth can come from a wider range of states and players. For now, his championship victory and place in Indian chess history provide a memorable Diwali achievement.
Frequently asked questions
Who is India's 100th chess Grandmaster?
Anuj Shrivatri of Madhya Pradesh became India’s 100th chess Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines, on November 8, 2026. He also became the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.
What did Viswanathan Anand say about Anuj Shrivatri?
Anand congratulated Shrivatri in a Diwali message on X, describing the achievement as “a cracker of a 100”. He also reflected on the approaching 40th anniversary of his own Grandmaster title, which he earned in 1987.
How did Anuj Shrivatri become a Grandmaster?
Shrivatri won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. After losing his opening game, he scored seven points from the next eight rounds and won his final two games to finish first with seven points from nine rounds.
Is Anuj Shrivatri the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh?
Yes. Shrivatri became the first chess Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh when he secured the title through his victory at the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship. He is also the 100th Grandmaster in India's national tally.
Who was India's first chess Grandmaster?
Viswanathan Anand became India's first Grandmaster in 1987 after winning the Shakti Finance International chess tournament in Coimbatore. Nearly four decades later, Anuj Shrivatri became the country's 100th Grandmaster with his championship victory in the Philippines.
Who was India's 99th Grandmaster before Anuj Shrivatri?
VS Rathanvel became India's 99th Grandmaster in July 2026 after crossing the 2500 Elo rating mark at the Guwahati Smart City International Open. His achievement brought India within one title of the 100-Grandmaster milestone later reached by Shrivatri.