India Celebrates 100 Grandmasters Amidst Evolving Title Landscape

The Cliff News | 10 November 2026

India has officially welcomed its 100th chess Grandmaster, with Anuj Shrivatri earning the coveted title this past Sunday. The achievement, marked by his victory at the ASEAN Plus tournament in the Philippines, signifies a major milestone for Indian chess. However, the landscape of attaining the Grandmaster title has significantly evolved since the era when Viswanathan Anand first achieved it in 1988.

While becoming a Grandmaster in 1988 represented a monumental leap towards a professional chess career, the current reality sees it as a significant but more common achievement. FIDE's revised regulations have made the path to the title more accessible, though players still strategize to meet the criteria.

Navigating the Path to Grandmaster

Modern aspirants often employ tactics such as withdrawing and re-entering tournaments or travelling between cities to optimize their Elo ratings and reach the Elo 2500 threshold. Playing in less competitive tournaments, particularly in Europe, has also become a common strategy. These adjustments are crucial for protecting one's rating and achieving the necessary Elo points.

Despite these shortcuts, achieving Grandmaster status remains a formidable task, and further professional advancement presents even greater challenges. Lucrative and frequent tournaments are primarily reserved for players with ratings above Elo 2650, making the climb steeper for those who haven't reached Elo 2550 by age 17.

The Cost of Aspiring to Grandmaster Status

Becoming a Grandmaster before the age of 18 is possible but demands a full-time commitment, substantial financial investment, and significant compromises in academic and social life. Currently, only 51 of India's Grandmasters have successfully maintained a rating above Elo 2500.

India's current Grandmaster rating distribution ranges from Anand's protégé Praggnanandhaa at Elo 2763 to Saptarshi Roy Choudhary at Elo 2222. Notably, nine Indian Grandmasters aged between 15 and 25 are currently below the minimum GM rating of Elo 2500, with Prithu Gupta, ranked India No. 142, at Elo 2398.

A Shifting Global Context for Grandmasters

In contrast to the past, when Viswanathan Anand became a Grandmaster, there were fewer than 200 active Grandmasters with ratings above Elo 2500. Today, that number has swelled to approximately 550. When considering Grandmasters who have fallen below the Elo 2500 mark, the global figure rises to around 750.

Challenges for Women in Chess

The situation for women in chess, while seeing progress, still involves navigating considerable hardships, including social and emotional obstacles, to attain the Grandmaster title.

Financial Realities and Sponsorship Gaps

According to former seven-time National Champion and coach Pravin Thipsay, many aspiring chess players face exorbitant coaching fees. A significant number of current Grandmasters are either unemployed or lack sponsorship. Many dedicate substantial funds to training without ever surpassing the Elo 1900 rating.

Thipsay highlighted the scarcity of private sponsors and funding for coaching relative to the number of aspirants seeking titles in India. He expressed disappointment that the All India Chess Federation (AICF) has not emulated successful models like the Soviet, Russian, or Chinese Chess Federations in creating systems to absorb Grandmasters and other skilled players into training roles or other service-oriented positions that could provide financial stability.