The nine-round, ten-day event, featuring 19 top GMs and an International Master (IM) from India and around the world, will run until August 15, offering a total prize pool of \u20b91 crore and valuable FIDE circuit points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In its third edition, the tournament is split into two elite round-robin sections, Masters and Challengers, each comprising 10 players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This year\u2019s Masters field includes a powerful mix of global and Indian talent. Alongside Erigaisi and Liang, the opening round will see top-seeded Dutch GM Anish Giri face American GM Ray Robson, while Vidit Gujrathi, Vincent Keymer, Nihal Sarin, and others are all set for high-stakes matchups.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Challengers section features a highly competitive lineup of experienced Grandmasters and emerging Indian talent. Round 1 will see Indian stars clash in some exciting matchups.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The section winner will take home \u20b97 lakh and secure a direct berth in the 2026 Masters, reinforcing the tournament\u2019s commitment to nurturing India\u2019s next generation of Grandmasters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sreeker Channapragada, Co-Founder of MGD1, said, \u201cIndian chess is at its most exciting juncture. We have a World Champion, multiple 2700+ players, and a wave of young talent pushing boundaries. The Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters was created to fuel this momentum. By bringing top global names to compete alongside India\u2019s brightest, we\u2019re not just hosting a tournament, we\u2019re building a launchpad for the next generation of champions.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since its inception, the Chennai Grandmasters has played a pivotal role in the Indian chess ecosystem, notably serving as a launchpad for Gukesh D, who won the inaugural edition in 2023 and used it to climb toward the Candidates and the World Championship match. Last year, Aravindh Chithambaram secured the title in a dramatic finish.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fixtures:<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Round 1 \u2013 Masters Pairings<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Arjun Erigaisi vs Awonder Liang<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Anish Giri vs Ray Robson<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vidit Gujrathi vs Jorden Van Foreest<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vincent Keymer vs Nihal Sarin<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pranav V vs Karthikeyan Murali<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Round 1 \u2013 Challengers Pairings<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Leon Luke Mendonca vs Harshavardhan GB<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Abhimanyu Puranik vs Adhiban Baskaran<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vaishali Rameshbabu vs Iniyan Pa<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Abhimanyu Puranik vs Adhiban Baskaran<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pranesh M vs Aryan Chopra.<\/p>\r\n\r\n