India's 100th chess Grandmaster: PM Modi hails Anuj Shrivatri's historic feat
Synopsis
India has officially crossed the 100-Grandmaster mark in chess — a milestone PM Modi celebrated on X — thanks to 22-year-old Anuj Shrivatri of Madhya Pradesh, who clinched the title at the ASEAN Plus Open in the Philippines after a stunning comeback from an opening-round loss. Shrivatri is also the first Grandmaster from his state, underscoring how India's chess boom has spread well beyond its traditional hubs.
Key Takeaways
Anuj Shrivatri , 22 , became India's 100th chess Grandmaster on 8 November 2026 .
He won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines , scoring 7 points from 9 rounds .
Shrivatri is the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh .
He recovered from an opening-round loss to post six wins and two draws in the remaining rounds.
PM Modi congratulated Shrivatri in a post on X, calling the milestone 'remarkable.' India's first Grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand , earned the title in 1988 ; the century mark reflects decades of accelerating growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, congratulated Anuj Shrivatri on becoming India's 100th chess Grandmaster, calling it a remarkable milestone that reflects the country's immense talent, dedication, and the sport's rapidly growing appeal among young Indians. Modi made his remarks in a post on X, writing: 'India has hit a century in chess! Exceptional, isn't it? India is now home to a hundred chess Grandmasters!'
Shrivatri's Tournament Victory in the Philippines
Anuj Shrivatri, 22, from Madhya Pradesh, clinched the Grandmaster title after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship held in Ozamiz City, Philippines, on 8 November. He accumulated seven points from nine rounds, finishing half a point ahead of Vietnam's Nguyen Duc Hoa to claim the tournament title.
Shrivatri's campaign began on a difficult note — he lost his opening game — but he mounted an impressive comeback, registering six wins and two draws in his remaining eight rounds. A decisive victory against Australia's James Morris in the final round sealed both the tournament crown and the coveted Grandmaster milestone. He also became the first player from Madhya Pradesh to earn the title.
What PM Modi Said
In his X post, Modi offered warm congratulations and placed the achievement in a broader national context. 'Congratulations to Anuj Shrivatri on becoming India's 100th Chess Grandmaster! What a wonderful achievement it is. India reaching 100 Grandmasters is a remarkable milestone that reflects the immense talent, dedication, and hard work of our players as well as the growing popularity of chess among our youth,' the Prime Minister wrote.
Modi added that it was 'particularly heartening to see young chess talents emerging from different parts of the country and making their mark on the global stage,' expressing hope that the achievement would inspire more youngsters to take up chess and pursue excellence.
India's Chess Century in Context
India's journey to 100 Grandmasters spans several decades, but has accelerated sharply in recent years. The country produced its first Grandmaster — Viswanathan Anand — in 1988, and the pace of title-holders has surged following the rise of a new generation shaped by structured coaching programmes and international exposure. Notably, India now rivals traditional chess powerhouses for depth of talent, and the rapid emergence of young Grandmasters from states beyond the traditional chess belt — including Madhya Pradesh — signals a democratisation of the sport.
This comes amid India's broader chess renaissance, which includes World Rapid and Blitz champions, top-ranked women players, and a historic performance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad where India won both the open and women's gold medals. Shrivatri's milestone is, in that sense, as much a marker of a movement as it is a personal achievement.
What This Means for Indian Chess
Reaching the 100-Grandmaster landmark places India among a small group of nations with such depth. Chess federations and coaches have pointed to the growing network of academies in tier-2 and tier-3 cities as a structural driver. For youngsters in states like Madhya Pradesh, Shrivatri's story — a comeback win after an opening loss on the global stage — is a potent motivational signal. The coming months are likely to see the next cohort of aspirants accelerate their title bids.
Point of View
Suggesting the pipeline is now self-sustaining and no longer dependent on a handful of elite academies. Shrivatri's emergence from Madhya Pradesh is the clearest proof yet. What mainstream coverage underplays is the competitive pressure this creates domestically: with 100 Grandmasters competing for limited slots in national teams and international invitations, India's internal selection process may become as fiercely contested as the titles themselves. That is both a sign of health and a governance challenge for the All India Chess Federation.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anuj Shrivatri and how did he become India's 100th Grandmaster?
Anuj Shrivatri is a 22-year-old chess player from Madhya Pradesh who earned the Grandmaster title by winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines, on 8 November 2026. He scored seven points from nine rounds, overcoming an opening-round loss with six wins and two draws to finish half a point ahead of Vietnam's Nguyen Duc Hoa.
What did PM Modi say about India's 100th chess Grandmaster?
PM Modi posted on X calling it a 'wonderful achievement' and wrote: 'India has hit a century in chess! Exceptional, isn't it?' He praised the talent, dedication, and hard work of Indian players and expressed hope the milestone would inspire more youngsters to take up the sport.
Why is reaching 100 Grandmasters significant for India?
It places India among a very small group of nations with that depth of Grandmaster-level talent. The milestone also signals that chess has spread beyond traditional strongholds, with players like Shrivatri becoming the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh. It follows India's historic double gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad.
Who was India's first chess Grandmaster?
Viswanathan Anand became India's first chess Grandmaster in 1988. The country has since produced 99 more, with the pace of new titles accelerating sharply in recent years.
Is Anuj Shrivatri the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh?
Yes. Shrivatri's title makes him the first chess Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh, highlighting how India's chess talent pool has expanded well beyond the states that traditionally dominated the sport.
