Rejected a job offer for chess, now he's India's 100th GM: How Anuj Shrivatri made it
Anuj Shrivatri has become India's 100th Chess Grandmaster after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines. The 22-year-old from Madhya Pradesh achieved this milestone after choosing to pursue a professional chess career over a corporate job.
Why it matters
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian chess, highlighting the growing professionalization of the sport in the country.
NEW DELHI: While India was preparing to light diyas for Diwali, Anuj Shrivatri was about 2,800 miles away, in a tournament hall in the Philippines, closing out a game that would make him the country's 100th Grandmaster and the first his state, Madhya Pradesh, had ever produced.Before this Sunday, India had 99 Grandmasters, and Madhya Pradesh had none. The tally has now gone up by one, thanks to a 22-year-old from Katni who rejected a corporate job offer to chase this exact moment.As he prepares to board a flight back home, his latest challenge is to contain the euphoria felt in his voice."The feeling right now is mostly relief," Anuj told TimesofIndia.com from the Philippines, barely a day after winning the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship and securing the GM title."I had been trying for the GM title for a long time.
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