Tags:MiscellaneousSSC
For Prelims: Grandmaster (GM), FIDE, Elo Rating System, 100th Indian Grandmaster, Date of milestone, Tournament won, First Indian GM, Countries with 100+ GMs
For Mains: Chess ecosystem, sports infrastructure, talent pipeline, role of FIDE, sports as a career
Source:
The Hindu
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- India has 100 Grandmasters in chess, the fourth country to reach this milestone.
- Anuj Shrivatri is the 100th Indian Grandmaster, achieving the title on Diwali Day 2026.
- Viswanathan Anand was India's first Grandmaster, earning the title in 1987.
- Only Russia, the USA, Germany and India have 100 or more Grandmasters.
- There are about 2,000 Grandmasters in the world.
Why in the news?
India has become only the fourth country in the world to produce 100 Grandmasters (GMs) in chess, after Russia, the United States and Germany. Anuj Shrivatri became the 100th Indian GM on Diwali Day 2026 by winning the ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines.
Summary
- India has 100 Grandmasters, joining Russia, the US and Germany as the only nations with a hundred GMs.
- Anuj Shrivatri became the 100th Indian GM on Diwali Day 2026 by winning the ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship at Ozamiz City, Philippines, earning the title directly without needing norms.
- India had no GM until Viswanathan Anand earned his title in 1987; the country's second GM arrived in 1991.
Highlights
100th Grandmaster Milestone
India became the fourth nation to have 100 Grandmasters, with Anuj Shrivatri earning the title on Diwali 2026.
From Zero to 100 in Four Decades
India had no GM till 1987; now it has 100, reflecting a remarkable growth in chess infrastructure and talent.
Exclusive Global Club
Only Russia, the United States and Germany have produced 100 or more Grandmasters since the title was introduced in 1950.
Background
India's chess journey began with Viswanathan Anand, who became the country's first GM in 1987. For decades, the number of GMs grew slowly: the second GM (Dibyendu Barua) came in 1991, and the third (Pravin Thipsay) in 1997. The turning point came after 2000, when Abhijit Kunte became the fourth GM and the pipeline started flowing regularly.
Key Analysis and Impact
The 100-GM milestone places India in an elite group of four nations. With only about 2,000 GMs worldwide, India's share is now 5%. The growth is driven by Anand's success inspiring a generation, the All India Chess Federation's tournaments and coaching camps, corporate sponsorship, and parental willingness to invest in chess as a career. This ecosystem mirrors the success of the IPL in cricket.
Way Forward
India is now producing GMs at a rapid pace, suggesting the 200-GM mark may be reached much faster than the first 100. Sustaining this requires continued investment in grassroots coaching, more international tournaments in India, and support for women's chess, where India also has strong talent like Dronavalli Harika and R. Vaishali.
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- Grandmaster (GM)
- The highest title awarded by FIDE (International Chess Federation) to chess players. Requirements typically include three GM norms and a FIDE rating of at least 2500 Elo points.
- FIDE
- Fédération Internationale des Échecs, the world governing body for chess, founded in 1924. It awards titles such as Grandmaster, International Master, and FIDE Master.
- Elo Rating System
- A method for calculating the relative skill levels of chess players, named after Arpad Elo. A GM must have a minimum rating of 2500.
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 is Anuj Shrivatri, achieved on Diwali Day 2026
- Data: India has 100 GMs; only Russia, USA and Germany have more
- Data: First Indian GM: Viswanathan Anand (1987)
Don't make this mistake!
Confusing Anuj Shrivatri with other recent GMs (e.g., D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa) or stating India has 100 GMs including those from before independence. Also, mixing the year of India's first GM (1987) with the year Anand won his first World title (2000).
Write these in mains answers
- Chess ecosystem, sports infrastructure, talent pipeline, role of FIDE, sports as a career
Stuck? Get it in one tap
A Grandmaster (GM) is the highest title a chess player can get. India had no GMs until Viswanathan Anand became one in 1987. Now, in 2026, Anuj Shrivatri became India's 100th GM. Only three other countries have achieved this: Russia, the USA and Germany.
- India has 100 Grandmasters in chess, the fourth country to reach this milestone.
- Anuj Shrivatri is the 100th Indian Grandmaster, achieving the title on Diwali Day 2026.
- Viswanathan Anand was India's first Grandmaster, earning the title in 1987.
- Only Russia, the USA, Germany and India have 100 or more Grandmasters.
- There are about 2,000 Grandmasters in the world.
- Sports: Chess and Indian achievements
- Background GK: Sports awards and titles
Related concepts: Grandmaster (GM), FIDE, Elo Rating System
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which international body awards the Grandmaster title in chess?
Explanation: FIDE is the world governing body for chess, founded in 1924. It awards the Grandmaster title, the highest in chess. The IOC oversees the Olympics, UNESCO deals with education and culture, and WCF is not a real body.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Anuj Shrivatri became India's 100th Grandmaster in 2026.
- 2.Viswanathan Anand was India's first Grandmaster, earning the title in 1991.
- 3.Only four countries in the world have produced 100 or more Grandmasters.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Anuj Shrivatri became the 100th Indian GM on Diwali Day 2026. Statement 2 is incorrect: Anand became India's first GM in 1987, not 1991. Statement 3 is correct: Russia, USA, Germany and India are the four nations with 100+ GMs. Hence option C is correct.
- Q3Easy
How many Grandmasters does India have after Anuj Shrivatri's achievement in November 2026?
Explanation: Anuj Shrivatri became the 100th Grandmaster of India. 50 and 75 are lower numbers from earlier years; 150 is speculative and not supported by the news.
- Q4Medium
What does India reaching 100 Grandmasters primarily indicate about the country's chess ecosystem?
Explanation: The news attributes the growth to Anand's inspiration, the All India Chess Federation's tournaments and coaching camps, and corporate support. Option A is false as Russia, USA and Germany have more GMs. Option C applies only to Shrivatri's case, not all players.
Frequently asked questions
1. Who is India's 100th Grandmaster in chess?
Anuj Shrivatri became India's 100th Grandmaster on Diwali Day 2026 by winning the ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in Ozamiz City, Philippines.
2. How many countries have 100 or more Grandmasters?
Only four countries: Russia, the United States, Germany and India. There are about 2,000 Grandmasters worldwide.
3. Who was India's first Grandmaster?
Viswanathan Anand became India's first Grandmaster in 1987, winning his final GM norm at the Sakthi Finance tournament in Coimbatore.
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- Original9 November 2026 · Read story
