Delhi Open chess is back with biggest-ever prize purse of Rs. 1.21 crore

Delhi Open chess: Delhi’s top global chess competition is back, offering the biggest-ever prize money in its history and a grand opportunity for youngsters to showcase their talent. Having missed two editions, the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, part of the 2025 FIDE Circuit, will be played from June 7 to 14 at Tivoli Gardens, Chhatarpur, New Delhi.

The tournament has a total prize money of Rs 1.21 crore, which will be split into three categories in which the competition will be held. Another major incentive for the players will be the points they earn, as these will be counted towards the FIDE World Championship Cycle.

However, the primary goal of the tournament is to provide a platform for youngsters to make their mark and earn some prize money along the way, says Bharat Singh Chauhan, president of the Delhi Chess Association (DCA), the organisers of the competition.

“The main aim of organising this tournament is to present cash awards to lower-category players – something that is not available elsewhere. That is why we are offering huge prize money to the top-finishing players of this tournament,” Chauhan told Patriot.

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“For example, there is a total prize money of Rs 35 lakh for players with ratings of 1699 and below [Category C, the lowest]. Our basic aim is to promote these lower-category players and make them feel that there is money in chess, too. This way, more and more people can come to chess. So, this is an opportunity for new players. The top players can take care of themselves, as they have jobs as well as sponsors,” he explained.

Top Delhi names missing

Traditionally, the tournament has been staged in January. But for some reason, this time it was decided to organise it in June. This could be a factor why some of the top Delhi players, like Tania Sachdev, will be missing in action, says Chauhan. “Unfortunately, these players had made commitments elsewhere beforehand. We are, however, still talking to some more players,” he pointed out.

Tania was a member of the Indian women’s team that clinched the epochal gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest – India’s first-ever Olympiad title – last September. Three-time Olympiad gold medallist Vantika Agarwal, who was also part of last year’s Budapest triumph and was registered as a Delhi player until last year, will also be missing. She has since switched to Uttar Pradesh.

Usually, the Delhi Open would be organised from January 9 to 16 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. “But when we finalised the summer dates this time, the air-conditioning inside the playing hall was a top consideration. Logistics was going to be another issue – ferrying players from the stadium venue to their hotel,” pointed out Chauhan.

“Also, chess needs a quiet surrounding, but in multi-sport stadiums it has often been seen that the other competitions going on simultaneously next door would disturb chess players. So, due to these reasons, we have opted for the Tivoli resort where both the playing venue and accommodation are in one place,” he said.

A competitive field

Grandmaster (GM) and former world junior champion Abhijeet Gupta, who is the only player to win the Delhi GM Open three times – 2008, 2014, and 2020 – is among the stars who have confirmed participation.

GM Narayanan SL is the top male Indian, while Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Shubhi Gupta is the top Indian female competing.

Armenian GM Manuel Petrosyan, a former World Youth champion, is the top male foreigner entered so far, and Russian Woman International Master Smirnova Ekaterina is the top foreigner. The last date of entries is June 5.

And although world champion Gukesh D is not competing, he took a giant leap at this tournament in 2019 when, aged 12 years, seven months, and 17 days, he became the third youngest GM ever.