Overview
- Anuj Shrivatri clinched first place at the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open in the Philippines, finishing 7/9 and securing the direct GM title that media outlets reported as India’s 100th on Sunday.
- The result makes the 22‑year‑old from Katni the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh and drew public congratulations from All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang and Viswanathan Anand.
- The ASEAN+ event can award a direct GM title to its winner under FIDE rules, which is why Shrivatri’s tournament triumph produced an immediate media milestone even as FIDE’s published roster is still updating.
- Shrivatri’s path highlights common pressures for rising Indian players: he paused a corporate job to pursue chess full time and relied on coaching, small earnings from rapid events, and family support to fund overseas play.
- The century milestone reflects a rapid surge in Indian GMs since 2013 driven by stronger coaching networks and academies, but commentators warn that sponsorship, financial security and the leap from GM to elite 2600+ level remain key challenges.