He Chose Chess Over a Corporate Career: How Anuj Shrivatri Became India’s 100th Grandmaster
A secure career in software engineering was waiting for Anuj Shrivatri. Instead, the 22-year-old chose uncertainty, walked away from a job opportunity and decided to give chess one final, serious push. That gamble has now made him India’s 100th Grandmaster and Madhya Pradesh’s first.
Xtratime Webdesk: A secure career in software engineering was waiting for Anuj Shrivatri. Instead, the 22-year-old chose uncertainty, walked away from a job opportunity and decided to give chess one final, serious push. That gamble has now made him India’s 100th Grandmaster and Madhya Pradesh’s first.
Shrivatri, from Katni, had been introduced to chess by his father, Ashok Kumar, when he was around five or six. His elder brother eventually pursued a career in software engineering, but Anuj continued chasing his own path on the chessboard.His progress was steady. He became an International Master in 2019, but the road to the Grandmaster title proved much longer than expected. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his progress, while the financial demands of playing international tournaments made the journey even more difficult.
After completing his BTech in Computer Science from Lovely Professional University, Shrivatri received a full-time job opportunity following an internship. But rather than choosing the security of a corporate career, he decided to step away and concentrate completely on chess.
The decision came with considerable financial pressure. Without major sponsorship, Shrivatri had to support his chess journey through earnings from rapid tournaments and coaching. International events could cost him around ₹1 lakh, making every tournament an investment in an uncertain dream.
His breakthrough finally arrived at the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. Shrivatri lost his opening game but responded brilliantly, remaining unbeaten in his next eight rounds with six wins and two draws. He finished on seven points from nine rounds, half a point ahead of Vietnam’s Nguyen Duc Hoa.
The tournament’s special format allowed the winner to receive the Grandmaster title directly, rather than following the conventional route of three GM norms and a 2,500 rating.
For Shrivatri, the achievement represents the payoff for years of patience, sacrifice and belief.
Now, with the historic 100th GM milestone behind him, his ambitions are already bigger. He wants to cross the 2600 rating mark and establish himself among India’s leading chess players.
