Chennai Grand Masters postponed to Thursday after fire at tournament venue
PTI
Last Updated:
Chennai, Aug 6 (PTI) The Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, featuring some well-established Indian and international names, has been postponed to Thursday after a fire broke out at the event's venue, the Hyatt Regency hotel.
The third edition of the competition was scheduled to start on Wednesday.
'Fire at Hotel Hyatt Regency last night, the venue of the Chennai GM. All the players are safe and shifted to another hotel nearby. Tournament postponed by a day," wrote Indian GM and tournament director Srinath Narayanan on his X handle.
The players were eventually brought back to the hotel, but the tournament will begin a day later after a fresh round of safety checks.
'Close to midnight there was an emergency in the Hotel Hyatt Regency in Chennai. Due to an electric fire on the ninth floor, the entire hotel became smoky and everyone had to evacuate the hotel before it became difficult to breathe," ChessBase India reported.
The organisers informed PTI that the timing of the matches will remain the same, but a rest day has now been removed from the schedule.
'The timings will be the same, and the tournament will end on August 15 itself. There was a rest day in between, and that is no longer part of the schedule," they said.
The Chennai Grand Masters, which carries a prize money of Rs one crore, has in its roster an impressive array of players such as India No.1 Arjun Erigaisi, seasoned Vidit Gujrathi and Anish Giri from the Netherlands.
World No. 5 Erigaisi will open his campaign against American prodigy Awonder Liang.
The highly-anticipated clash between two Indian grandmasters — Erigaisi and Gujrathi — is set for Round 8 on August 14.
The tournament, which was played over seven rounds in the previous two editions, will see participation from 19 Grandmasters and offer crucial FIDE Circuit points.
The points will be vital for securing a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, a case in point being reigning world champion D Gukesh, who entered the Candidates last year on the back of his strong showing here. PTI UNG PM UNG PM PM
view comments
First Published:
August 06, 2025, 11:15 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Erratic Alcaraz battles through in Cincinnati opening match
Carlos Alcaraz had to fight his way out of a second-set slump on Sunday to escape with a 6-1, 2-5, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open. Erratic Alcaraz battles through in Cincinnati opening match The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since a runner-up finish to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, raced through the first set but completely lost his way in the second set, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. But he regained his intensity and cut down his errors, in the third. Alcaraz fired his seventh ace to set up a match point and advanced to the third round seconds later as his opponent fired wide. Alcaraz, seeded second claimed his 12th consecutive match at the Masters 1000 level after titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. "It was a relief to get this win," Alcaraz said after committing 44 unforced errors. "It was a rollercoaster of good feelings and bad feelings. "I was happy to get the win in the end. I know that I have chances to do better. "I will use the day off tomorrow to get my confidence back. It was a little tricky, I need to play smart tennis." Alcaraz, runner-up in Cincy in 2023, added: "It can be difficult to play great tennis here. The ball really flies and goes super fast. There will be some points where you don't feel so good. "You must maintain positive thoughts and keep going in the right way." Sixth seed Alex de Minaur, the Washington champion and a Toronto quarter-finalist last week, was bounced by American Reilly Opelka 7-6 , 6-4, who crushed 14 aces and saved all seven break points he faced. "I didn't serve as well as I'd have liked to, but everything else was working," said Opelka, who had lost five prior matches against the Australian. "My serve fluctuated and it was a bit of a surprise that the other things came through well for me today." Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut dismissed Briton Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-3 while number nine seed Andrey Rublev beat American Learner Tien 7-6 , 6-3. In women's action, second-seeded French Open champion Coco Gauff battled through a tough first set to beat China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. Gauff, who lifted the trophy in Cincinnati in 2023 and went on to claim her first Grand Slam title at the US Open that year, grinded through a first set marred by five service breaks. But the seed steadied in the second set to run out the winner in 71 minutes on a first match point. "It was a rough start," Gauff said. "But it was about just trusting myself and the work we've done in practice. "I was able to let it all go in the second set." Third seed Jessica Pegula, runner-up last year to Aryna Sabalenka, defeated Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-3. Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, finalist last season at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, needed her last-chance match point to cement a 7-6 , 7-6 win over Greek Maria Sakkari. The Italian winner blew her first five match points and advanced to the third round when Sakkari delivered a double-fault. Paolini also needed five chances to win the opening set. "It was a rollercoaster," Paolini said. "It's better to go in a straight line in these matches, not up and down," she said. "The key for me was trying not to be in a rush, I tried to hit winners and move her around. "I served well on the important points but this was not the best performance for me." Olympic champion Belinda Bencic was upended 6-4, 7-6 by Veronika Kudermetova. Eighth seed Emma Navarro was eliminated 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 by German qualifier Ella Seidel. str/bb This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Jake Paul challenges Anthony Joshua with fight talks heating up in 2026
Jake Paul challenges Anthony Joshua with fight talks heating up in 2026 (Image via Getty) Anthony Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, says there is a 'very good chance' that Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul will fight soon. The talks between the two fighters are real and could lead to a match early next year. Eddie Hearn, who has worked with Anthony Joshua for more than 10 years, spoke about this on the 'TMZ Sports' TV show, which airs every night on FS1. At first, Eddie thought Jake Paul was just making noise and would not fight Joshua. But now, he believes the fight will happen. Jake Paul is a smaller fighter with a record of 12 wins and 1 loss, while Anthony Joshua is a former heavyweight champion who is much bigger. Still, the deal might be on. Eddie Hearn confirms Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul fight talks are real Eddie Hearn is sure the fight will happen soon. He said that many people thought Jake Paul was only making headlines. But after many talks with Jake Paul's team, Eddie realized they really believe they can win. Anthony Joshua is 35 years old, stands 6 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs about 260 pounds. He also won a gold medal at the Olympics. Jake Paul is younger at 28, and much smaller, but he believes he can beat Joshua. Eddie said, 'This is not Jake Paul fighting Mike Tyson. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo This is Jake Paul fighting one of the most dangerous fighters in the world.' He also warned that Jake Paul will face the best Anthony Joshua, so it will be very tough. Jake Paul confident despite Anthony Joshua's size and experience Jake Paul thinks he has a chance to win, even though many doubt him. Eddie Hearn called Jake a 'madman' but also respected his confidence. The fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson last year was huge, with 108 million viewers worldwide. That shows how big these boxing matches can get. Also Read: 'More Than Any American Culture': Martina Navratilova Once Shared How Chris Evert's Catholic Upbringing Shaped Her Tennis Image Eddie said the Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight could be even bigger and one of the biggest pay-per-view fights ever. He also said, 'If you want Anthony Joshua to remove you from boxing, we will happily do that.' The fight is likely to be a major event early next year. Fans will be watching closely to see if Jake Paul can take on one of boxing's top heavyweights. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
It's important that teammates value me, coach knows my ability: Siverio
Siverio reunites with Manolo after stints at Las Palmas & Hyderabad Panaji: When Javier Siverio landed in India during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, he was an exception to the foreign player rule. Most players arrive in India at the fag end of their careers, largely in their thirties, trying to cash in on a final paycheck. Siverio was just 23 when he took Manolo Marquez's advice and followed in his footsteps to India. Siverio and Manolo know each other from their days at Las Palmas in Spain, so when the experienced coach asked if he wanted to give India a try, the striker didn't think much. After two seasons with Hyderabad FC where they won the ISL Trophy in 2022, the duo went their separate ways: Manolo to FC Goa and Siverio to East Bengal, and later Jamshedpur FC . Now they are reunited. At Goa. 'It's important that a coach has confidence in the player and knows what he offers (on the field),' Siverio told TOI after a training session at the Field of Dreams in Guirim last week. 'That's why he took me to Hyderabad, now here. For me, he's a coach who does not invent or experiment too much. Everyone knows what they have to do. That's important because even if you sometimes have a bad game, you can still get a good result.' There's a reason why Manolo chose Siverio ahead of every other name that was put before him. First, the familiarity to Indian football; after all, it's the striker's fifth season here, so he knows everything associated with the sport. Then, like the coach explains, 'whether people like his style or not,' he's aware about himself and will do the job.' 'This guy will score goals even a day before he passes away,' Manolo told TOI after the club's formal announcement. Siverio is not what fans wished for when Armando Sadiku left the club, leaving a vacancy upfront. For a club that has had Rafael Coelho, Ferran Corominas, Igor Angulo, Alvaro Vazquez and Carlos Martinez as strikers in recent times, fans probably expected a more attractive name. Siverio is under no illusion about his popularity, or the lack of it, at least before the start of the season. 'Normally I watch all the games in the league and since I've come here, the top scorers have scored 10-12 goals in the ISL. I come here from Jamshedpur, scoring seven, that too after not being a regular starter. For me that's not important. I just want to help the team whenever they need me, even if it's coming from the bench or if I am starting,' said Siverio. Last season, only four players -- Alaaeddine Ajaraie, Sunil Chhetri, Jamie Maclaren and Armando Sadiku – scored goals in double figures. Siverio won't mind the perception anyone has about him. He knows the coach, and his teammates, trust him to burst through barriers, run endlessly, throw himself in the air, and fight for the ball like his life depended on it. 'The important thing for me is that my teammates make me feel valued,' said Siverio. 'The coaching staff know my abilities. It's important for a player to know what he's capable of doing, and what he's not. I know I can do a lot for the team and I'll be available for them whenever they want.' For a start, not just his teammates, but everyone with Goa on their mind will need him to deliver when the Super Cup champions host Al Seeb at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday. It's a crucial single-leg playoff against the Oman champions, with a spot in the AFC Champions League Two group stage on offer. 'We know it's a difficult game, but if we do the correct things, we can win this one. We have trained for a month, played some friendlies and I can see that the team is in good shape. Seeb Club are playing away, it won't be easy for them to adjust to the weather and conditions here. I'm sure we can win this one,' said Siverio. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
