Anuj Shrivatri Becomes India’s 100th Chess Grandmaster

Anuj Shrivatri has become India’s 100th chess Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Misamis Occidental, Philippines. The 22-year-old International Master from Madhya Pradesh finished with seven points from a possible eight, recovering from an opening-game defeat to claim the title and secure a landmark milestone for Indian chess.

Shrivatri’s achievement makes him the latest player to join India’s expanding Grandmaster list. His tournament win at the Asenso Global Youth Leadership and Sports Complex delivered the result that confirmed his place as the country’s 100th GM, a significant individual accomplishment and another marker in the continued growth of Indian chess.

Seven points from eight seals the ASEAN Open title

The decisive detail of Shrivatri’s run was his response after the first round. He lost his opening game at the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship, but went on to collect seven points across the eight-round event. That recovery carried him to the tournament title and the Grandmaster distinction.

Winning seven points from eight after an initial setback underlines the consistency required across the remainder of the competition. Shrivatri did not allow the early result to define his campaign, instead completing the event with the score needed to finish at the top and achieve the Grandmaster milestone.

The championship was held at the Asenso Global Youth Leadership and Sports Complex in Misamis Occidental. For Shrivatri, the event will stand out as the tournament where he moved from International Master to Grandmaster and entered the record books as India’s 100th player to hold the title.

The Grandmaster title is one of the defining benchmarks in competitive chess, and Shrivatri’s success adds a new chapter to India’s record in the game. The country’s first Grandmaster was Viswanathan Anand, who earned his third norm in 1987 and won the title in 1988. Shrivatri now follows that historic starting point as the 100th Indian to reach the same designation.

A rapid rise in India’s Grandmaster count

Shrivatri’s achievement also completes a notable five-month stretch for Indian chess. India’s 96th through 100th Grandmasters were awarded their titles between July 2026 and November 2026, according to the report. Shrivatri is the fifth player in that sequence.

Ethan Vaz, Harshvardhan GB, S Ashwath and V Rathnavel received Grandmaster titles before Shrivatri. Their additions, followed by Shrivatri’s ASEAN title win, moved India’s total into triple figures.

For Shrivatri, the immediate significance is clear: a difficult start in Misamis Occidental ended with a championship, seven points from eight, and India’s 100th Grandmaster title. For Indian chess, the milestone links the country’s first GM, Anand, with a new generation of players continuing to add to the national total.

The 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship will therefore be remembered not only for its winner, but for the place it holds in India’s chess history. Shrivatri’s title-winning finish made him the player who brought up the century of Indian Grandmasters.