Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta Faces Delays in Receiving Odisha Open Prize Money Amid Organisational Infighting
Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta Frustrated Over Unpaid Prize Money from Odisha Open
New Delhi, May 9, 2026 — Renowned Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta has expressed his deep frustration over the non-payment of ₹5.5 lakh in prize money for winning the Odisha Open earlier this year. Despite multiple assurances from the tournament organizers, Gupta has yet to receive the funds, prompting him to seek intervention from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The 36-year-old chess prodigy, who made history by winning the Commonwealth Chess Championship five times, took to social media platform ‘X’ to voice his concerns. “I kindly request the Ministry to look into this matter and help ensure that players receive their rightful prize money with transparency and accountability,” he wrote.
Gupta’s victory at the Odisha Open in January was celebrated, but the subsequent silence from the organizers has left him disheartened. “They assured me that the prize money would be paid within a month. However, when I followed up later, they stopped responding,” he lamented.
Sources indicate that the Odisha Chess Association is currently embroiled in internal disputes, leading to a frozen bank account that has hindered the payment process. “There is infighting within the association, with rival factions locked in a dispute, which has resulted in players not receiving their dues,” a source from the All India Chess Federation (AICF) revealed.
Gupta emphasized that this issue transcends his personal experience. “This is not just about one unpaid prize. It is about protecting the dignity and trust of every chess player in India,” he stated. He also highlighted the broader implications for grassroots players, noting, “If this can happen to someone honoured with the Arjuna Award, one can only imagine the struggles faced by players at the grassroots level of chess in India.”
While a senior AICF official claimed that the federation has reached out to Gupta, he remains skeptical. “I am 100% certain that the issue will be resolved soon,” the official said, adding that they are working to understand the situation with the Odisha association.
Gupta, however, feels compelled to raise the issue publicly after nearly four months of waiting. “The infighting in the Odisha association has been going on for years. They conducted the tournament, and it was affiliated with the AICF. So there has to be some responsibility on the part of the national federation,” he argued.
As the chess community watches closely, Gupta’s plight serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by athletes in securing their rightful earnings. “As a sportsperson, you win very few tournaments and lose more. That’s what I feel in general,” he concluded, hoping for a swift resolution to his predicament.