Anuj Shrivatri secures India’s 100th Grandmaster title with ASEAN Plus win

Anuj Shrivatri became India’s 100th Grandmaster on Sunday by winning the seventh ASEAN Plus individual open chess championship in the Philippines during the festival of lights. The 22-year-old had a job offer from a Germany-based IT company but chose chess and said he does not regret that decision.

Since V.S. Rathanvel became the 99th GM, the identity of India’s 100th had been widely discussed among chess followers. Anuj was introduced to the game by his father, Ashok, at the age of six and advanced rapidly with family support. He is the first-ever Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.

The victory in the Philippines conferred the title on him directly after he topped the event. “It feels very good to become a GM and being the country’s 100th is special,” he told The Hindu. “I had been trying to become a GM and winning the tournament earned me the title directly. All the hard work paid off.”

Anuj admitted there was pressure at the business end of the tournament but said he avoided overthinking to seize the opportunity. “I played some really good chess in the last two rounds to win and clinch the title,” Anuj, who became the first-ever GM from Madhya Pradesh said. His composure in the closing rounds was decisive for the outcome.

He credited his parents for their encouragement when a job offer existed alongside his chess pursuit. “I can’t thank my father and mother enough. They encouraged me to pursue chess when there was a good job offer,” Anuj, who admires World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Indian legend Viswanathan Anand, said. “Openings and end-games are my forte and time-management is something which I can improve on,” he added.

Having realised the GM dream, he said “the focus is to cross the 2600 barrier and win lot of tournaments.”