If you’re a chess fan or just curious about the game’s biggest battles, the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 is the tournament you simply can’t miss this August! With global chess stars and rising Indian talents ready to fight it out over the board, Chennai is all set to rock the chess world once again. From the dates and players to what’s at stake, here’s everything you need to know about Chennai Grand Masters 2025.
What’s the Chennai Grand Masters?
Chennai Grand Masters 2025 is India’s strongest international chess event and has quickly become a highlight on the global chess calendar. The third edition in 2025 brings together top chess grandmasters and emerging stars for a high-voltage battle under classic chess rules. Buzz is sky-high with big prize money, FIDE circuit points, and a serious legacy up for grabs.
The tournament will take place from August 7 to August 16, 2025 (a day later than planned due to a minor hotel incident, don’t worry, everyone’s safe!). All games will be played at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai. All games start at 3:00 PM IST daily, with the final round kicking off earlier on August 16.
Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Who’s Playing?
We’ve got a blockbuster lineup at the Chennai Grand Masters 2025, featuring some of the world’s best and India’s brightest stars:
- Arjun Erigaisi (India)
- Anish Giri (Netherlands)
- Vincent Keymer (Germany)
- Vidit Gujrathi (India)
- Nihal Sarin (India)
- Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands
- Awonder Liang (USA)
- Ray Robson (USA)
- Karthikeyan Murali (India)
- Pranav V (India)
Praggnanandhaa and reigning World Champion D Gukesh aren’t playing this time due to scheduling with other international tournaments, but the field is still super strong.
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If you love supporting Indian talents, the Challengers group at the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 is stacked with emerging stars like Abhimanyu Puranik, Leon Luke Mendonca, Pranesh M, P. Iniyan, Adhiban Baskaran, Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and more.
What’s the Format?
It’s simple, 10 players, single round-robin, where every player faces everyone else once. All games use classic time control (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move). If players tie for first after 9 rounds, a quick blitz tiebreak and then an Armageddon decider will crown the champ!
Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Prize Money
This year’s purse is bigger than ever, Rs. 1 crore in total (about $115,000)! The Chennai Grand Masters 2025 winner gets Rs. 25 lakh, with cash prizes all the way down to 10th place. Plus, winning here means big FIDE Circuit points, which can help players qualify for global events like the Candidates Tournament.
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Chennai isn’t just proud of its chess legacy; it’s building the future of the sport. The Grand Masters is where tomorrow’s world champions are made. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, this is India’s chess party, and you’re invited!
Also read: Kaggle’s Game Arena: All You Need To Know About This Amazing Chess Tournament
