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Key Points

The Delhi GM Open 2025 is set to become a landmark chess event with an unprecedented Rs 1.21 crore prize pool. The tournament will welcome over 2,500 players from more than 15 countries, highlighting India's growing chess prowess. Past champions like Gukesh Dommaraju and Arjun Erigaisi have emerged from this prestigious platform. The event promises intense competition across three categories, reinforcing its reputation as Asia's largest classical chess tournament.

Key Points: Delhi GM Open 2025 Unveils Rs 1.21 Crore Chess Spectacle

  • Largest classical chess tournament in Asia with massive prize pool
  • Hosts over 2,500 players including 20 Grandmasters
  • Nurturing ground for India's chess champions
  • Three rating-based competitive categories
2 min read

Delhi GM Open 2025 to commence on June 7 with record prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore

Record-breaking Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament attracts 2,500 players from 15 countries, featuring top Indian chess talents

"We've seen the sport move from the margins to the mainstream - Bharat Singh Chauhan, Delhi Chess Association President"

New Delhi, May 17

With a record prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore, the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, organised by the Delhi Chess Association, is all set for its 21st edition from June 7 to 14 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, New Delhi.

A marquee calendar event on the FIDE World Championship Circuit, the tournament has played a pivotal role in shaping the rise of India's chess stars, including past winners Arjun Erigaisi and Aravindh Chithambaram, R. Praggnanandhaa, and World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, who earned his final GM norm here to become a Grandmaster.

Organised under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, the Delhi GM Open has grown into the largest classical-format chess tournament in Asia by participation. This year, the Delhi GM Open will host over 2,500 players from more than 15 countries, including 20 Grandmasters, competing across three rating-based categories. The prize pool marks a 168 per cent increase from last year's edition.

Category A carries a Rs 51 lakh prize pool and is open to internationally rated players. Categories B and C, for players rated below 1900 and 1700, respectively, will offer Rs 35 lakh each. All matches will follow FIDE rules and the FIDE Swiss System format, with 10 rounds in every section.

Speaking on the occasion, Delhi Chess Association president Bharat Singh Chauhan said, "Over the past two decades, the Delhi GM Open hasn't just kept pace with the rise of chess in India, but has helped drive it. We've seen the sport move from the margins to the mainstream, and this tournament reflects that shift in every sense, from the scale of participation to the depth of competition and the infrastructure supporting it. With every edition, we're strengthening the foundations for a sustainable, high-performance chess culture in the country."

Category A games will follow a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one, with the top three prizes set at Rs 7,00,000, Rs 6,00,000 and Rs 5,00,000 respectively. The top ten finishers in this category will each receive Rs 1,00,000 or more while special prizes of Rs 1,00,000 each will be awarded to the Best Female Player and Best Foreign Player.

Category B and C games will follow a 60-minute-plus-30-second time limit and 30-minute-plus-30-second formats, respectively. Entry is free for Grandmasters, International Masters, Women Grandmasters, and Women International Masters.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
This is fantastic news! India's chess revolution is truly inspiring. Just 5 years back, we had only a handful of GMs, and now we're hosting Asia's largest tournament. Kudos to Delhi Chess Association! 🇮🇳♟️ The prize money increase shows how seriously we're taking chess now.
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Priya M.
So proud to see our young talents like Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh getting recognition through tournaments like this. My son is participating in Category C - the fact that even amateur players get such good platforms is wonderful. Hope they stream the top games live!
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Amit S.
While I appreciate the growth, I wish more funds were allocated to developing chess infrastructure in smaller towns. Most top players still come from urban centers. The prize money is great, but equal focus on grassroots development would create more Gukeshs across India.
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Sneha R.
The Best Female Player prize is a good initiative, but Rs 1 lakh seems small compared to main prizes. Women's chess needs more encouragement in India. Otherwise great to see chess getting this level of attention and prize money - makes all those childhood chess classes worth it!
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Vikram J.
Chess is becoming the new cricket in India! With Viswanathan Anand's legacy and now young stars shining, this tournament shows our global chess ambitions. The foreign player participation will raise standards further. Maybe next year they can include a special category for seniors too?
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Neha P.
As a chess mom, I'm thrilled to see this growth! My daughter has been practicing 4 hours daily for Category B. The structured categories help players at all levels. Just hoping the venue has good facilities - last year's tournament at a different location had AC issues in Delhi heat!

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