Who was set to become India’s 46th chess Grandmaster at the Sharjah Masters 2017 tournament?

Introduction / Context:
India has produced a growing number of chess Grandmasters, and exam questions often focus on milestones such as the “first Grandmaster”, “youngest Grandmaster”, or “46th Grandmaster”. This question checks whether you can correctly match the 46th Grandmaster title with the Indian player associated with the Sharjah Masters 2017 chess tournament.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event mentioned is the Sharjah Masters 2017 chess tournament.
• The title referred to is India’s 46th Grandmaster.
• The options list four strong Indian players: Srinath Narayanan, Praggnanandhaa, Shyaamnikhil, and Grover Sahaj.
• We assume familiarity with major Indian chess achievements reported in sports news.

Concept / Approach:
Chess titles such as Grandmaster (GM) are awarded when a player crosses a required rating threshold and achieves specific performance norms. India's Grandmasters are often numbered in order of achieving the title. The player associated with becoming India’s 46th Grandmaster at Sharjah Masters 2017 is Srinath Narayanan, whose strong performance in that event secured the final GM norm he needed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall recent Indian chess history and news about players earning GM titles around 2017. Step 2: Recognise that Srinath Narayanan's performance at the Sharjah Masters 2017 tournament was widely reported as clinching his final norm, making him India’s 46th Grandmaster. Step 3: Check the other names: Praggnanandhaa became one of the youngest Grandmasters later, but he is not linked with the 46th GM number or Sharjah Masters 2017. Step 4: Shyaamnikhil and Sahaj Grover are strong titled players, but they are associated with other GM numbers and events. Step 5: Therefore, the only option that correctly matches the description is Srinath Narayanan.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you look at official records from FIDE (the International Chess Federation) or contemporary Indian sports reporting, you will find explicit mention that Srinath Narayanan became India’s 46th Grandmaster, with his critical norm being achieved at the Sharjah Masters in 2017. The other players listed have impressive credentials but correspond to different milestones, confirming the uniqueness of Srinath Narayanan for this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Praggnanandhaa: Famous for being one of the youngest Grandmasters in history and for later elite performances, but not for being India’s 46th GM at Sharjah 2017. Shyaamnikhil: A strong Indian player, but his title and main achievements are linked to different events. Grover Sahaj: Also a notable Indian Grandmaster, but not associated with the 46th GM number or the specific Sharjah Masters 2017 milestone.

Common Pitfalls:
This question can confuse candidates who only remember the big headline names like Praggnanandhaa and overlook less media-famous players. Another pitfall is mixing up the GM numbering system, as many players have earned titles in quick succession. To tackle such questions, make a brief list of notable Indian GM milestones: first (Viswanathan Anand), specific numbered GMs, and very young prodigies. This helps in separating similar-sounding names under exam pressure.

Final Answer:
At the Sharjah Masters 2017 chess tournament, the player set to become India’s 46th Grandmaster was Srinath Narayanan.