Chennai Grandmasters 2024: Exciting Tournament Ahead with Strong Lineup and FIDE Circuit Points at Stake
The first edition of the Chennai Grandmasters in 2023 saw a historic tie between Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, two of India’s top chess players. This result was crucial for Gukesh as it helped him gain FIDE circuit points and eventually led him to qualify for the Candidates tournament, where he will be competing for the World Championship title.
Now, the Chennai Grandmasters is back for its second edition in 2024, with the support of the Tamil Nadu Government. The tournament will be held in Chennai from the 5th to the 11th of November 2024 and will feature two sections – Masters and Challengers.
The Masters section will have an average rating of 2729 and will include top players like Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Aravindh Chithamabram. The event will play a key role in the FIDE circuit 2024 and the qualification for the Candidates 2026.
On the other hand, the Challengers section is a new addition to the tournament, giving young Indian talents a chance to compete at a top level. The winner of the Challengers section will qualify for next year’s Masters.
The total prize fund for the Masters section is Rs.50 lakh, while the Challengers section will have a prize fund of Rs.20 lakh. The tournament will consist of 7 rounds of Classical chess in a Round Robin format and will take place at the Anna Centenary Library.
GM Srinath Narayanan, the coach of the gold medal-winning Indian chess team and VP of Chess at MGD1, expressed his pride in organizing the Chennai Grandmasters for the second time. He highlighted the support of the Tamil Nadu government and the rise of Indian chess players like Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi as catalysts for the event.
The Chennai Grandmasters is supported and sponsored by the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, and organized by MGD1 and ChessBase India. With top players and exciting competition, the second edition of the Chennai Grandmasters promises to be a thrilling event for chess fans.