21st Delhi International GM Open Chess Tournament: A clash of titans begins in premier classical showdown

S.L. Narayanan, Abhijeet Gupta (three-time Delhi GM champion), alongside international stars Levan Pantsulaia (Georgia) and Manuel Petrosyan (Armenia) are set to compete in the 21st Delhi International GM Open Chess Tournament, commencing June 7 at Tivoli Gardens, New Delhi.The tournament has attracted more than 2,500 participants from 25 countries, cementing its position as a premier classical chess competition in Asia, where established champions compete and emerging talents develop.Top seed Narayanan (FIDE 2600) leads this year's competition, recognised for his classical chess expertise. The strong Indian representation includes Abhijeet Gupta, GM Diptayan Ghosh, and National Champion GM Venkataraman Karthik. Category A, designated for internationally rated players, features 24 GMs & 21 IMs, including notable international players like Luka Paichadze (Georgia). This category offers Rs 51 lakh in prize money.Bangladesh's WIM Rani Hamid, aged 80 and twenty-time National Champion, returns to Delhi, sustaining her distinction as one of Asia's most enduring international players.Bharat Singh Chauhan, Delhi Chess Association President, stated: "Over the years, we've nurtured players not just by giving them a platform, but by building a high-performance environment rooted in consistency and care. Many of India's finest, including Gukesh and Arjun, have grown through this very ecosystem. With legends like Rani Hamid and stars like Narayanan in the mix, this year's edition reflects the range, strength, and soul of South Asian chess."The tournament has established itself as a significant platform for elite talent development. Notable players including Arjun Erigaisi, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram refined their skills here, whilst Gukesh Dommaraju secured his final GM norm at this event, becoming the world's youngest Grandmaster at age 12. The 2025 edition maintains this tradition of excellence.Categories B (Under-1900) and C (Under-1700) each offer Rs 35 lakh in prizes, attracting over 2,000 participants. All competitions follow classical time control format under FIDE Swiss System rules, comprising 10 rounds per section.