Diwali 2026 brought Indian chess a celebration beyond fireworks and festivities. On November 8, 22-year-old Anuj Shrivatri from Madhya Pradesh became India’s 100th Chess Grandmaster, completing a milestone that Indian chess enthusiasts had eagerly awaited.
Shrivatri achieved the prestigious title after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. His victory also created another historic distinction: he became the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.
By_https://indiainput.com Desk
His achievement marks a defining moment for Indian chess. A country that once looked towards a handful of international stars for inspiration now has a century of Grandmasters to celebrate.
Happy Diwali. A cracker of a 100. Congrats to @AnujShrivatri on getting India to this milestone. Funnily only today I was thinking December 2027 will be the 40th anniversary of my GM title and literally this manifested….@FIDE_chess @aicfchess
— Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) November 8, 2026
From One Grandmaster to One Hundred: The Anand Legacy
The story began with Viswanathan Anand, India’s first Grandmaster, who earned the title in 1988. At a time when international chess was dominated by established European and Soviet schools, Anand demonstrated that an Indian player could compete with the world’s best.
His subsequent achievements, including five World Championship titles, transformed India’s relationship with chess.
The board of Indian chess – the board of 100 GMs is complete! 🙂 Thank you @vishy64theking for inspiring an entire nation! It took us close to 40 years to achieve this milestone! The next 100 is going to be way faster! 🙂 https://t.co/ibBW1MCrXm
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) November 8, 2026
Dibyendu Barua followed in 1991, while Praveen Thipsay became India’s third Grandmaster in 1997. The journey was initially slow. By 2013, India had 32 Grandmasters. The country reached 50 in 2017, but the momentum accelerated dramatically thereafter.
The next 50 arrived in less than nine years, reflecting the expansion of India’s chess ecosystem, improved coaching opportunities, international exposure and a growing competitive culture.
The Next Generation Is Changing the Game
India’s chess revolution is no longer dependent on one individual or one generation.
Young talents such as D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and several others have established India’s presence at the highest levels of international chess.
The country’s growing talent pool, training infrastructure, tournaments and chess academies are creating opportunities for players from different regions and backgrounds.
Anuj’s achievement is particularly significant because it brings Madhya Pradesh onto India’s Grandmaster map. It demonstrates that excellence on the 64 squares is increasingly emerging from beyond traditional chess centres.
Vishy Anand’s Diwali Message: A Century of Inspiration
Celebrating the achievement, Viswanathan Anand posted on X:
“Happy Diwali. A cracker of a 100.”
He congratulated Anuj and reflected on the remarkable timing of the milestone, noting that he had been thinking about the approaching 40th anniversary of his Grandmaster achievement when India’s hundredth GM emerged.
He also thanked the legendary chess community for inspiring an entire nation.
The sentiment captures the significance of Anand’s contribution: he did not merely become India’s first Grandmaster; he helped make the dream achievable for generations that followed.
From 100 to 200: The Next Checkmate
India’s hundredth Grandmaster is not an endpoint. It is a new beginning.
The challenge now is to widen access to quality coaching, identify young talent in smaller towns, strengthen grassroots tournaments and provide sustained support to promising players.
As Anand’s inspiration continues to influence young chess enthusiasts, the next hundred Grandmasters could emerge much faster.
India took nearly four decades to complete its first century. The countdown to the second has already begun.
The chessboard of 100 Indian Grandmasters is complete. Now, the country is ready for its next big move!
SOURCE :
https://chessbase.in/news/anuj-shrivatri-becomes-indias-100th-grandmaster
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