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Delhi GM Open 2025 set to take place from June 7 with prize pool of 1.21 Crores

At the time of writing, SL Narayanan is the highest-rated player to headline the Delhi GM Open 2025.

L-R: Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and Harsha Bharathakoti with their trophies at Delhi GM Open. (FILE)

The Delhi Chess Association on Saturday announced that the 21st edition of the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament will be played from June 7 to 14 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur in New Delhi, with a cool prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore.

At the time of writing, SL Narayanan is the highest-rated player to headline the event. Several experienced Indians like Abhijeet Gupta, Diptayan Ghosh and SP Sethuraman will also feature in the event. Among overseas players, Armenia’s Manuel Petrosyan, Karen H. Grigoryan and Georgia’s Levan Pantsulaia are some of the top players.

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.

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In 2025, the Delhi GM Open is expected to 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 will have a prize pool of Rs 51 lakh 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.

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.