India Hits Century: Anuj Shrivatri Becomes Nation’s 100th Chess Grandmaster

In a historic moment that marks a monumental shift in the landscape of Indian sports, Anuj Shrivatri has officially etched his name in the record books by becoming India’s 100th chess Grandmaster. Shrivatri secured this prestigious title after a commanding performance at the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship held in Ozamiz City, Philippines. By clinching the title at the event, he secured a direct Grandmaster (GM) norm, catapulting India to the century mark.

Beyond the national milestone, Shrivatri’s achievement is a personal triumph for his home state. He now holds the distinguished honor of being the very first chess player from Madhya Pradesh to attain the Grandmaster title, highlighting the growing reach of chess excellence beyond the traditional strongholds of the sport in India.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) celebrated the achievement with pride, as president Nitin Narang took to social media to broadcast the news. “GRANDMASTER No. 100 FOR BHARAT! India achieves a historic milestone… Onwards to 200 Grandmasters!” Narang posted, reflecting the optimism surrounding the current golden generation of Indian chess players.

A Journey Spanning Four Decades

The road to 100 GMs is a narrative of persistence and evolution. The foundation was laid in 1987 when the legendary Viswanathan Anand became India’s first-ever Grandmaster after his success at the Shakti Finance International tournament in Coimbatore. Since that breakthrough, the growth of the sport has been exponential, supported by a structured pipeline of coaching and international exposure.

Shrivatri’s ascent comes on the heels of another significant milestone earlier this year. In July, VS Rathanvel became the nation’s 99th Grandmaster after surpassing the 2500 Elo rating threshold at the Guwahati Smart City International Open. Rathanvel, whose development was guided by a roster of expert coaches including Vishnu Prasanna and Narayanan Srinath, had completed his three required GM norms back in 2022, underscoring the rigorous process required to earn the ultimate title.

Understanding the Grandmaster Title

The title of Grandmaster is the pinnacle of a chess player’s career, bestowed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). It is the highest honor in the hierarchy of international titles, which includes International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), and Candidate Master (CM).

To earn the title, a player must navigate a complex set of FIDE regulations. Obtaining a “GM norm” requires an exceptional performance at a tournament, characterized by a Tournament Performance Rating (TPR) of at least 2600. Furthermore, the event must meet specific criteria regarding the strength of the field, ensuring that a significant portion of the opponents are established GMs.

The path to the title is grueling, requiring players to secure three such norms across a minimum of 27 competitive games, while also maintaining a FIDE rating of 2500. As India celebrates its 100th GM, the focus now shifts toward nurturing the next wave of talent, with the hope that the momentum generated by players like Shrivatri will inspire a new generation to aim for the 200-mark in the years to come.

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