India, Nov. 10 -- It's been 38 years since Viswanathan Anand became India's first-ever Grandmaster (GM) and later went on to become its first World Chess Champion. On Sunday, Madhya Pradesh's Anuj Shrivatri won the 7th ASEAN Plus Individual Open Chess Championship in the Philippines and became India's 100th GM. Anand, who is also the interim President of the International Chess Federation, feels proud of the growth that Indian chess has shown. "100 is a wonderful number and is a moment for all of us to pause and celebrate the pride we feel as it signifies the growth Indian chess has achieved, which is one of the things that makes me the proudest," he says. The 56-year-old points out the achievements of the new-gen Indian chess players, including the current World Chess Champion D Gukesh and Vaishali Rameshbabu, who is soon set to challenge for the Women's World Chess Championship title. "The bar has been raised high. Youngsters now don't just want to compete; they want to go all the way to the top," says Anand, adding that the game still needs to be more popularised to become more attractive for sponsors. One of the most prominent names in the chess world, Anand has an advice for young players: "In chess, not all answers are available right away. You just keep playing, and eventually, the path becomes clear. Don't forget that the pieces are right there on the board. It's fine to talk about your mindset and the mental struggle you're undergoing; stay in the present and pay attention to the board - there's usually plenty of action right in front of you."...