Grandmasters Assemble! Delhi’s Mega Chess Fest Boasts Rs 1.21 Crore Jackpot

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 1,100 Views

The Delhi Chess Association has announced that the 21st edition of the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament will take place from June 7 to 14 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, New Delhi, featuring a record prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore. This marks a remarkable 168% increase from last...

With over 2,500 players from more than 15 countries, including 20 Grandmasters, the Delhi GM Open has become Asia’s largest classical-format chess tournament by participation. The event will be contested across three rating-based categories: Category A (open to all internationally-rated players) with a prize purse of Rs 51 lakh, and Categories B and C (for players rated below 1900 and 1700, respectively) offering Rs 35 lakh each.

All matches will adhere to FIDE rules and use the Swiss System format, with 10 rounds in each section. Category A games will feature a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. The top three prizes in Category A are set at Rs 7,00,000, Rs 6,00,000, and Rs 5,00,000, with all top ten finishers receiving at least Rs 1,00,000. Special prizes of Rs 1,00,000 each will be awarded to the Best Female Player and Best Foreign Player.

Category B and C games will use 60-minute-plus-30-second and 30-minute-plus-30-second time formats, respectively. Entry is free for Grandmasters, International Masters, Women Grandmasters, and Women International Masters.

The Delhi GM Open has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of India’s chess stars, with past winners including Arjun Erigaisi, Aravindh Chithambaram, R Praggnanandhaa, and reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, who earned his final GM norm at this event. Delhi Chess Association President Bharat Singh Chauhan highlighted the tournament’s impact, stating, “With every edition, we’re strengthening the foundations for a sustainable, high-performance chess culture in the country.”

Source: The Indian Express

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