Anuj Shrivatri Claims ASEAN Title, Becomes India’s 100th Grandmaster

ASEAN Title and GM Norm Secured in Misamis Occidental

Anuj Shrivatri has claimed victory at the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship, held at the Asenso Global Youth Leadership and Sports Complex in Misamis Occidental, and in doing so cemented his place in Indian chess history by becoming the country’s 100th grandmaster.

The 22-year-old International Master from Madhya Pradesh finished on 7 points out of a possible 8, recovering from an opening-day loss to close out the event with a dominant performance. The tournament crowns him both champion and the latest member of an exclusive Indian GM cohort.

A Rapidly Growing GM Tradition

India’s journey to its centennial grandmaster began with the legendary Viswanathan Anand, who first earned the coveted title in 1988 after securing his third GM norm the previous year. Since then, the numbers have grown steadily, but the most recent stretch has been particularly striking: India produced its last five grandmasters — ranks 96 through 100 — within just a five-month window between July and November 2026.

Anuj joins that latest group alongside Ethan Vaz, Harshvardhan GB, S Ashwath, and V Rathnavel, all of whom received their GM titles in the months leading up to his achievement.

Tournament Highlights

• Event: 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship
• Winner: Anuj Shrivatri (India)
• Score: 7 out of 8 points
• Venue: Asenso Global Youth Leadership and Sports Complex, Misamis Occidental
• Significance: Anuj becomes India’s 100th Grandmaster

Looking Ahead

Anuj’s triumph adds yet another milestone to Indian chess, a nation whose grandmaster count has been climbing at a remarkable pace. His strong finish at the ASEAN championship underscores not only individual brilliance but also the depth of talent emerging across the country.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Bridge — Chess.

Official source: https://thebridge.in/chess/anuj-shrivatri-india-100th-grandmaster-58309