Chennai Chess Grand Masters 2024: Schedule, Star Players, Prize Money, How to Watch

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The Chennai Chess Grand Masters, India's premier classical chess tournament, is set to return for its second edition from November 5 to 11.

This event offers fans the chance to witness Olympiad-winning players vying for essential FIDE Circuit points. Arjun Erigaisi, who recently achieved a 2800 ELO Rating, will headline this year's tournament. The competition promises a more intense Masters contest and introduces a new Challengers event featuring female players for the first time.

Organised by MGD1 in collaboration with ChessBase India and sponsored by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the tournament will take place at the Anna Centenary Library, which seats 1,100 spectators. Entry is complimentary for registered chess academy students, while general admission tickets are available on BookMyShow for INR 100.

Chennai Chess Grand Masters Points System

The Masters' champion will secure 24.5 FIDE Circuit points, crucial for qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament and potentially leading to the World Championship. If there are joint winners, each will receive 22.3 points. The second and third-place finishers will earn 17.8 and 15.6 points respectively.

GM Srinath Narayanan, VP of MGD1, expressed his enthusiasm: "The Chennai Chess Grand Masters has already proven to be a great stepping stone for Indian chess talent, with last year's event contributing to future milestone moments for Indian Chess as Gukesh (Dommaraju) secured crucial points at this very tournament that propelled him to the Candidates Tournament and, eventually, the World Championship."

This year's edition features eight players with an average rating of 2729 competing for vital FIDE Circuit points. Alongside Arjun Erigaisi (2799), notable participants include Vidit Gujrathi (2739), Aravindh Chithambaram (2706), Levon Aronian (2739), Maxime Vachier Lagrave (2737), Parham Maghsoodloo (2712), Alexey Sarana (2679), and Amin Tabatabae (2686). They will compete for a prize pool of 50 Lac, with the winner taking home 15 Lac.

Challengers Event: A Platform for Emerging Talent
The introduction of the Challengers event provides Indian prodigies an opportunity to compete in high-level tournaments. This segment includes two women players-Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali Rameshbabu-marking a first for Chennai Chess Grand Masters.

Harika Dronavalli shared her excitement: "The Chennai Chess Grand Masters Challengers event is opening new doors for emerging talent to test themselves at a high level. It's inspiring to see such strong support for developing chess in India, especially with growing female participation."

In addition to witnessing Olympiad Gold Medalists in action, attendees can purchase exclusive chess merchandise from special stalls at the venue. The tournament will also be broadcast live on ChessBase India's YouTube channel, reaching over two million followers worldwide.

Chennai Grand Masters Prize Money

The Challengers participants will compete for a prize pool of 20 Lac. The winner will claim 6 Lac and earn a direct spot in next year's Masters event. This initiative aims to foster emerging talent within India's vibrant chess community.

As anticipation builds around this prestigious tournament, it continues to serve as an essential platform for showcasing both established champions and rising stars in Indian chess.

Chennai Grand Masters Ticket Booking

Follow the Link to book the tickets for the Chennai Grand Masters.