He was born in Egio, Achaia and grew up in Athens, in the neighbourhood of Kallithea, as his family moved to the Greek capital in 1970. His registration at the Kallithea Chess Club in 1979 was his first contact with chess. Two years later he won the Greek Cadet Championship, under the guidance of FM Panagiotis Drepaniotis. He wrote the book "The Grivas Sicilian".
Chess career
A relatively late starter, Grivas was taught how to play at a chess club when he was 13 years old. He was later trained by IM Dr. Nikolai Minev, FM Michalis Kaloskambis, GM Efim Geller and IM Nikolai Andrianov. He took part in a FIDE training camp in Moscow in 1984. Grivas has played in Greece for the following clubs: Kallithea Chess Club, OAA “Iraklion”, Kavala Chess Club, AO “Kydon” Khania and A.E.K.. From 1982 until 1999 he represented Greece 186 times, having participated in eight Olympiads, three European Team Chess Championships, and twelve Balkaniads. His greatest success was winning the Silver Individual Medal at the 33rd Chess Olympiad in 1998. Other important successes were the Gold Individual Medal at the European Team Championship in 1989, 4th place at the World Junior Chess Championship in 1985, 1st place at the 1987 Munich international tournament, 11th individual place at the 32nd Chess Olympiad in 1996, qualification of his club to Europe's best 16 clubs in 1997 He scored the following at international tournaments: 3rd in Paris 1982, 1st in Cap d'Agde 1983, 2nd in Karditsa 1984, 3rd in Bucharest 1984, 2nd in Strasbourg 1985, 2nd in Munich 1986, 3rd in Xanthi 1991, 2nd in Gausdal 1993, 3rd in Reykjavík 1994, 2nd in Limassol 1997, 1st in Hellexpo-Sportexpo 2001. His handles on the Internet Chess Club are "E-Grivas" and "Gref".
Author
From 1982 on he successfully worked as a journalist in newspapers and magazines. Between January 1992 and September 1999 he was editor-in-chief and main contributor of the monthly magazine of the Greek Chess Federation, Greek Chess. In 2010 he was awarded the Boleslavsky Medal for 2009.
Administrator and organizer
He was a founding member of the Association of Top Greek Chessplayers and has since been a member of its Policy Board. From 1996 until 1999 he held the position of Greek Chess Federation Technical Advisor. Finally, he served as a member of FIDE's Players’ Council. He holds the titles of FIDE International Organizer and FIDE International Arbiter, titles that are awarded according to specific requirements and are not honorary.
Trainer
His work in this field includes more than 12000 hours of training in many clubs, especially with younger players. From 1986 to 1991 he was the Federal Trainer of the National Juniors Team. During the period 1989–1990 he was the Trainer of the DEI Macedonia-Thrace Chess Academy, while during 1996–1998 and 2002–2004 he held the same position in Pnevmatiki Stegi Peristeriou Chess Club and finally during 2002–2005 he worked with Koropi Sports & Chess Club as well. In 2001–2002 he worked as a professor at the Institute of Professional Education in Peristeri and as External Contributor with O.E.E.K. while from 2001–2004 he also offered his chess services to the Military Officers’ Academy. In 2004 Grivas was awarded the title of FIDE Senior Trainer.
