Chennai Grand Masters 2025: All you need to know about prize money
Chennai Grand Masters 2025 offers a total prize pool of Rs 1,01,50,000.
The third edition of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament is scheduled to return in 2025, building on the success of its previous two years. The inaugural 2023 event was won by Indian Grandmaster (GM) Gukesh Dommaraju, while GM Aravindh Chithambaram emerged as the winner in the second edition and returns as the defending champion.
The Chennai Grand Masters 2025 will take place from August 7 to August 15, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai, with 20 players from around the world participating. The Masters Section will feature ten international players, while the Challengers Section will include ten Indian players to promote local talent.
This year’s event features ten strong players, including top Indians Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Nihal Sarin, and Pranav Venkatesh, as well as elite international names like Anish Giri, Vincent Keymer, and Vladimir Fedoseev.
Two of India’s most prominent female players, Harika Dronavalli and Vaishali Rameshbabu, will also participate in the event. Here’s all you need to know about the Chennai Grand Masters 2025:
Alongside the Masters event, the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 will also feature a 10-player Challengers section, showcasing some of India’s most promising talents and experienced grandmasters.
The round-robin format will offer these chess players a valuable opportunity to compete in a structured classical setting and potentially earn a spot in future elite events.
Also Read: Chennai Grand Masters 2025: Live streaming, TV channel, where & how to watch?
At last, the winner will take home 25 Lakh in the Masters category and 7 Lakh in the Challengers category. The total prize pool for the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 is ₹1,01,50,000 (roughly $118,503). Out of this amount, ₹1,00,000 (about $1,167) was reserved specifically for the Play-In stage of the competition.
After a portion of the total prize pool is allocated to the winners of the Swiss and Knockout rounds of the Preliminary Play-in Round, the remaining amount will be distributed to the winners and runners-up of the Masters and Challengers categories.
What is the prize money for the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 Masters Category?
| Place | Prize Money in Rupees | Prize Money in USD (Approximately) |
| 1st | ₹25,00,000 | $29,188 |
| 2nd | ₹15,00,000 | $17,513 |
| 3rd | ₹10,00,000 | $11,675 |
| 4th | ₹7,50,000 | $8,756 |
| 5th | ₹5,00,000 | $5,838 |
| 6th | ₹3,50,000 | $4,086 |
| 7th | ₹3,00,000 | $3,503 |
| 8th | ₹2,40,000 | $2,802 |
| 9th | ₹1,80,000 | $2,102 |
| 10th | ₹1,80,000 | $2,102 |
Also Read: Top five Indian players to watch out for at Chennai Grand Masters 2025
What is the prize money for the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 Challengers category?
| Place | Prize Money in Rupees | Prize Money in USD (Approximately) |
| 1st | ₹7,00,000 | $8,173 |
| 2nd | ₹4,00,000 | $4,670 |
| 3rd | ₹3,25,000 | $3,794 |
| 4th | ₹2,50,000 | $2,919 |
| 5th | ₹2,25,000 | $2,627 |
| 6th | ₹1,75,000 | $2,043 |
| 7th | ₹1,50,000 | $1751 |
| 8th | ₹1,25,000 | $1,459 |
| 9th | ₹1,00,000 | $1,167 |
| 10th | ₹1,00,000 | $1,167 |
What are the dates and venue for the Chennai Grand Masters 2025?
The third edition of the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters is being held from August 7 to August 15, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency, Chennai.
How many players are participating, and how is the event structured?
A total of 20 players are participating, divided into two sections:
Masters Section (10 international players)
Challengers Section (10 Indian players)
Both follow a round-robin format with 9 rounds.
What is the total prize money for the event?
The total prize pool is ₹1 crore (approximately $118,000), distributed across the Masters and Challengers categories.
Who are some of the top players to watch in 2025?
The Masters Section features GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM Nihal Sarin, GM Anish Giri, and GM Vincent Keymer. In the Challengers Section, watch out for GM Abhimanyu Puranik, GM Leon Luke Mendonca, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, and GM Harika Dronavalli.
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Jagruti is a Feature Columnist and passionate freelance sports writer covering the Olympics for Khel Now. She brings insightful analysis and powerful storytelling that highlights the spirit, struggles, and triumphs of Olympic athletes.
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