India has reached the landmark of 100 chess Grandmasters, with 22-year-old Anuj Shrivatri becoming the country’s 100th GM on November 8 after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines. The Katni-born player is also the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh. His victory came nearly four decades after Viswanathan Anand became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the milestone “exceptional”, while five-time world champion Anand described it as “a cracker of a 100”. The achievement reflects India’s rapid rise in elite chess, although Shrivatri reached the title through a special FIDE-approved direct-title provision at the tournament rather than the conventional qualification route.
Shrivatri’s Historic Win
Shrivatri entered the nine-round ASEAN Plus championship as an International Master rated 2,450. He lost his opening game to Filipino player Arca Karlo but responded strongly, winning six of his next eight games and finishing with seven points from nine. His performance rating was 2,586, and he finished half a point ahead of Vietnam Grandmaster Nguyen Duc Hoa to win the tournament. The victory made him both India’s 100th Grandmaster and Madhya Pradesh’s first.
The route to the title was unusual. Under the conventional FIDE pathway, a player generally needs three Grandmaster norms across at least 27 games and must reach a rating of 2,500. Shrivatri’s 2,586 tournament performance was below the 2,600 performance level normally associated with a GM norm. However, the ASEAN Plus event was conducted under a special FIDE-approved format that allowed its winner to receive the Grandmaster title directly, provided the tournament met specified eligibility conditions.
A Remarkable Comeback
Shrivatri’s achievement is the culmination of a long chess journey. He became an International Master as a teenager and had already established himself in India’s competitive chess circuit before making his breakthrough to the GM title. His success also expands the geographical footprint of Indian elite chess: while states such as Tamil Nadu have historically produced a large share of the country’s Grandmasters, Shrivatri’s achievement gives Madhya Pradesh its first representative at the highest open chess title.
His achievement came after a rapid increase in India’s Grandmaster numbers. India reached 50 Grandmasters in 2017, and the tally has doubled in less than a decade. Ten of the country’s 100 Grandmasters have emerged in 2026 alone, highlighting how quickly the country’s pool of elite players is expanding.
From Anand To 100
India’s journey to 100 Grandmasters began with Viswanathan Anand, who became the country’s first GM in 1988. The rise was initially slow: India had only a handful of Grandmasters by the turn of the century. The pace accelerated significantly in the following decades, with the emergence of players such as D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi helping establish India as one of the world’s leading chess nations.
Anand, who became a five-time world champion, welcomed Shrivatri’s achievement on November 8, writing, “A cracker of a 100.” He also noted that December 2027 will mark 40 years since he earned his own Grandmaster title. The moment therefore represents a symbolic link between the beginning of India’s modern chess journey and the country’s arrival at the 100-GM mark.
Leaders Celebrate Milestone
All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang congratulated Shrivatri and described the achievement as a historic milestone for Indian chess, ending his message with a clear ambition: “Onwards to 200 Grandmasters!” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Shrivatri, saying India’s century of Grandmasters reflected the “immense talent, dedication and hard work” of its players and the growing popularity of chess among young people. He said the emergence of young players from different parts of the country was particularly encouraging.
The milestone also places India among the small group of countries that have produced at least 100 Grandmasters. Recent reports identify Russia, the United States, Ukraine and Germany among the countries that had already crossed the 100-GM threshold, meaning the exact “fourth country” formulation should be used carefully unless the ranking is tied to a specific FIDE dataset or date.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India reaching 100 Grandmasters is more than a sporting statistic. It shows what can happen when talent is supported over decades and when one generation’s breakthrough creates opportunities for the next. But the next milestone should not simply be about reaching 200; it should be about making the journey to elite chess accessible to children beyond established chess centres and families who can afford expensive coaching and travel.
Shrivatri’s achievement is a reminder that India’s chess potential is vast, but opportunity must grow alongside talent. As India looks towards its next 100 Grandmasters, what should be done to make competitive chess more accessible to children across smaller towns and less privileged communities?
