Nineteen GMs, 11 IMs and four WIMs, representing 19 countries, will feature in the Rs 40 lakh prize money Aurionpro International Grandmaster Chess Tournament, revived by Indian Chess School after an interval of five years, to be played at the World Trade Centre, here, from June 16 to 24. The tournament includes an International Open Grandmasters Chess event, offering prize money of Rs 25 lakh, and an Under-13 competition, offering prize money of Rs 15 lakh, regarded as the highest prize money tournament in the world for juniors.
Young chess players from across India and abroad will be competing in four age categories: Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, and Under-13. National champions will receive free entry and accommodation, while national school champions will get free entry, making the tournament accessible to the country’s brightest emerging talent.
“Chess is no longer confined to a few geographies; it is expanding fast and wide,” said Ashish Rai, Group CEO, Aurionpro Solutions. “We’re witnessing a surge of bold, brilliant players ready to compete on the global stage. This tournament is just the beginning of a new era, filled with immense, untapped potential.”
The tournament is being organized by the Indian Chess School, a respected institution in youth chess development. With participation expected from across the country and international entries as well, it offers a unique stage for young talent to gain exposure, experience, and recognition.
“The goal of the tournament has always been to encourage analytical thinking and mental resilience in youth,” said Praful Zaveri, Founder of Indian Chess School. “It’s inspiring to see a tech company like Aurionpro recognize that the same skills which produce great chess players are critical for navigating today’s digital challenges. This partnership validates the idea that strategy is a universal language, whether in technology or over the board.”
With this partnership, the Aurionpro International Grandmaster Chess Tournament is set to become a leading event in youth chess and a powerful step forward for the game’s future. The earlier editions have thrown up junior winners, who have gone on to carve a place for themselves in the global chess world, prominent among them current World Champion Gukesh.
The top three winners of the Grandmaster event will take home Rs 4 lakh, 3 lakh and two lakh respectively, while the winners of the junior event will win Rs 3 lakh, 2 kah and 1 lakh respectively.
India’s GM Diptayan Ghosh is the top seed of the GM event and will be challenged by the second seed GM Levan Pantsulaia of Georgia and third seed GM Petrosyan Manuel of Armenia.
The Junior event will have representation from 6 countries and the top seed is Mumbai’s 12-year-old FIDE Master Ansh Nerurkar, followed by Candidate Master Madhavendra Sharma. WIM Oshini Gunwardhana of Sri Lanka, Harikrishna P of USA and England’s Samar Dayal.