For Prelims: Grandmaster (GM), FIDE, GM Norm, Full form of FIDE, Nodal body, First Indian GM, 99th Indian GM, Current context
For Mains: Chess Grandmaster, AICF, FIDE, Khelo India, sports infrastructure
Source:
Indian Express
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Anuj Shrivatri is India's 100th chess Grandmaster.
- He is the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.
- Viswanathan Anand became India's first Grandmaster in 1987.
- The GM title is awarded by FIDE, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- A player needs three GM norms and a FIDE rating of 2500 to become a Grandmaster.
Why in the news?
Anuj Shrivatri of Madhya Pradesh has become India's 100th chess Grandmaster by winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. He is the first GM from Madhya Pradesh. India got its first GM, Viswanathan Anand, in 1987.
Summary
- Anuj Shrivatri is India's 100th chess Grandmaster, the first from Madhya Pradesh.
- He earned the GM title by winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship 2026 in Ozamiz City, Philippines.
- The GM title is awarded by FIDE (International Chess Federation), headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- A player needs three GM norms and a FIDE rating of 2500 to earn the title; a norm requires a tournament performance rating of at least 2600.
Highlights
100th Grandmaster
Anuj Shrivatri becomes India's 100th chess Grandmaster, a historic milestone for Indian chess.
First GM from MP
He is the first-ever Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.
FIDE's Role
The Grandmaster title is the highest chess title, awarded by FIDE, the world chess body based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Background
India's chess journey began with Viswanathan Anand becoming the first Grandmaster in 1987. Since then, the country has produced a steady stream of GMs, with the 100th milestone achieved in 2026. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has been instrumental in promoting the sport.
Key Analysis and Impact
Reaching 100 GMs places India among the top chess nations globally. The achievement reflects the success of grassroots programmes, increased tournament participation, and government support through schemes like Khelo India. Anuj's feat also highlights the rise of chess talent from non-metro regions like Madhya Pradesh.
Way Forward
With the target of 200 GMs now set by AICF, sustained investment in coaching, infrastructure, and international exposure will be critical. The growing popularity of online chess and the success of Indian prodigies like Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa augur well for the future.
Madhya Pradesh connection
Matters for these Madhya Pradesh exams:MPPSC 8/10MPESB 7/10
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Grandmaster (GM)
- The highest title a chess player can achieve, awarded by FIDE. Requires three GM norms and a FIDE rating of 2500.
- FIDE
- Fédération Internationale des Échecs, the international governing body of chess, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- GM Norm
- A high-level performance in a tournament with a performance rating of at least 2600, against opponents including at least 33% GMs from at least three federations.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
- Data: India's 100th Grandmaster (Anuj Shrivatri), first GM from Madhya Pradesh
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may ask about the first Indian GM (Viswanathan Anand, 1987) vs the 100th GM (Anuj Shrivatri, 2026). They may also confuse FIDE's full form (French vs English) or its headquarters (Lausanne, not Geneva).
Write these in mains answers
- Chess Grandmaster, AICF, FIDE, Khelo India, sports infrastructure
Stuck? Get it in one tap
A Grandmaster (GM) is the highest title in chess, given by FIDE. Anuj Shrivatri from Madhya Pradesh won a tournament in the Philippines and became India's 100th GM. The first Indian GM was Viswanathan Anand in 1987. To become a GM, a player needs three strong tournament performances (norms) and a high rating.
- Anuj Shrivatri is India's 100th chess Grandmaster.
- He is the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.
- Viswanathan Anand became India's first Grandmaster in 1987.
- The GM title is awarded by FIDE, headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- A player needs three GM norms and a FIDE rating of 2500 to become a Grandmaster.
- Sports: Chess and Indian Grandmasters
- Background GK: Sports awards and titles
Related concepts: Grandmaster (GM), FIDE, GM Norm
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which organisation awards the Grandmaster title in chess?
Explanation: FIDE, the International Chess Federation, awards the Grandmaster title. The IOC oversees the Olympics, AICF is India's national body, and there is no World Chess Council.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Anuj Shrivatri is India's 100th chess Grandmaster.
- 2.Viswanathan Anand became India's first Grandmaster in 1987.
- 3.A player needs two GM norms and a rating of 2500 to become a Grandmaster.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Anuj Shrivatri is the 100th GM. Statement 2 is correct: Anand became India's first GM in 1987. Statement 3 is incorrect: a player needs three GM norms, not two.
- Q3Medium
Who was India's 99th chess Grandmaster?
Explanation: VS Rathanvel became India's 99th Grandmaster in July 2026. Anuj Shrivatri is the 100th, Anand was the first, and Nitin Narang is the AICF president.
- Q4Medium
What is the primary significance of Anuj Shrivatri becoming a Grandmaster?
Explanation: Anuj Shrivatri's achievement is historic as the first GM from Madhya Pradesh and India's 100th GM.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who is India's 100th chess Grandmaster?
Anuj Shrivatri of Madhya Pradesh became India's 100th Grandmaster on 8 November 2026 by winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines.
2. Who was India's first chess Grandmaster?
Viswanathan Anand became India's first Grandmaster in 1987 after winning the Shakti Finance International chess tournament in Coimbatore.
3. What is a Grandmaster in chess?
Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can achieve, awarded by FIDE. A player needs three GM norms and a FIDE rating of 2500.
4. What is the full form of FIDE?
FIDE stands for Fédération Internationale des Échecs, which is French for International Chess Federation. Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland.
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- Original8 November 2026 · Read story
