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India Gazette
3 hours ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Delhi GM Open: Narayanan, Deepan, Abhijeet, Diptayan, Petrosyan continue winning streaks on Day 3
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): Day 3 of the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 delivered another thrilling chapter at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, as Round 4 featured several high-stakes matchups and standout performances from both Indian and international contenders. India's top seed Grandmaster (GM), Narayanan S L , led the charge with a solid win over Vietnam's GM Nguyen Duc Hoa, while Diptayan Ghosh, Deepan Chakkravarthy, and Abhijeet Gupta each registered clinical victories to maintain their momentum. Among international players, Manuel Petrosyan, Mihail Nikitenko, Mamikon Gharibyan, Boris Savchenko, and Luka Paichadze also continued their winning runs with confident performances. The day also saw key draws in closely contested games, including Aleksej Aleksandrov vs Karthik Venkataraman, and Aronyak Ghosh vs Mikulas Manik, as top boards fought to hold ground in an increasingly tight field, as per the Delhi GM Open press release. Adding to India's strong showing at the top, Dinesh Sharma and Harsh Suresh notched up important wins to stay in the lead group, while Aditya S Samant continued his consistent run with another solid victory, keeping himself in contention as the tournament progresses. A noteworthy performance came from Bivor Adak, who held Pantsulaia Levan to a draw -- a result that reflects the grit and growth of India's grassroots chess talent. Now in its 21st edition, the Delhi GM Open continues to draw global attention as Asia's largest classical-format open chess tournament. With over 2,500 participants from more than 20 countries, including 24 Grandmasters, and a record prize pool of Rs1.21 crore, the tournament stands as a premier stage for chess excellence and talent discovery. Organised under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, the event remains a cornerstone of India's competitive chess calendar and a true celebration of the sport's growing appeal. (ANI)
India Gazette
19 hours ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Delhi GM Open 2025: Deepan Chakkravarthy, Narayanan, Sivuk among leaders after double-round Day 2
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Day 2 of the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 brought double the drama as players faced off in Rounds 2 and 3 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur. With two classical-format games scheduled for the day, stamina and precision were put to the test as early leaders began to emerge, according to a release from Delhi GM Open. India's top seed GM Narayanan S L (2600) continued his flawless run, moving to 3/3 after defeating Arnav Agarwal (2096) in Round 3. Joining him at the top of the table are GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (2410), GM Vitaly Sivuk (2522), GM Mihail Nikitenko (2520), GM Karthik Venkataraman (2550), GM Abhijeet Gupta (2538), and IM Arsen Davtyan (2402), all of whom registered three wins in three rounds. The leaderboard remains tightly packed heading into an exciting Day 3. IM Aronyak Ghosh (2510) also maintained his perfect score with a composed win over Guru Prakash, keeping pace with the front-runners in a fiercely competitive field. The day was equally memorable for India's emerging crop of players. Vairaj Sogerwal, still riding high on his Round 1 upset over GM Karen H Grigoryan, continued to showcase resilience against stronger opponents. Singh Arshpreet (2075) moved to 2/3 with another composed showing, while FM J Ramakrishna (2036) and CM Akila Kavinda (2010) also stood at 2 to the surprises, Sai Kuchibhotla (2014) delivered a gritty performance to hold GM Tornike Sanikidse (2425) to a draw, a result that exemplifies the rising standard of India's grassroots chess talent. Now in its 21st edition, the Delhi GM Open has cemented its place as Asia's largest classical-format open chess tournament. With over 2,500 players from 20+ countries, including 24 Grandmasters, and a record prize pool of Rs1.21 crore, the tournament continues to offer a platform for India's brightest prospects to take on global heavyweights. Organised under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, the event remains a cornerstone of India's competitive chess calendar and a true celebration of the sport's growing appeal. (ANI)
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
From staging a wedding to hosting Delhi Chess Open, how venue was readied overnight
The Delhi Chess Association (DCA) was on tenterhooks as the venue for India's largest chess event – the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, featuring one of the largest gatherings in the sport (2,400 players) – was hosting a wedding that continued well past midnight on Friday, the eve of the first round. However, once the DCA was granted access to the playing hall – at 1:30 AM on Saturday – volunteers worked through the night to ensure an on-time start at 9:30 AM at Chhatarpur's Tivoli Gardens Resort in southwest Delhi. Everything fell into place, just like at an Indian wedding. With 32,000 chess pieces, 1,000 boards, as many clocks, stacks of scoresheets, thousands of pens, an army of volunteers and arbiters, the open event is by no means a small affair. 'You have to consider the financial aspect,' says Gopakumar Sudhakaran, the man behind the staging of the event. 'Securing a hall in one of Delhi's finest resorts isn't cheap. Even one extra day would've blown the budget. From the outside, it may seem like a lack of planning, but we knew we'd pull it off.' 'Once we got the hall, volunteers scrambled to set up backdrop panels, sponsor branding, and additional lighting — the existing set-up wasn't enough. Then came arranging tables, chairs, chess boards, pieces, and scoresheets — all coordinated by the DCA,' Sudhakaran tells The Indian Express. After the record-breaking 17th edition of Delhi Open, which featured 2,800 players, this year's event marks a resurgence in participation post-pandemic, following last year's turnout of less than 1,000 players. The players, divided into three categories based on ratings, are mostly accompanied by parents and other family members, creating a massive human footprint for the seven-day Delhi GM Open. Yet, when the first round began sharply at 9:30 AM, right on time, everything was in place. Inside the playing venue — two separate halls for Category A and B — the chaos was oddly synchronised. A long queue of players split the smaller hall — where top players like SL Narayanan, Abhijeet Gupta, Levan Pantsulaia, and Manuel Petrosyan were competing — into two equal halves, as they shuffled between the facilities, coffee stalls and water stations. The arbiters, unperturbed by the chatter, efficiently assisted players ranging in age from 7 to 80. But what does it take to host an open chess event in India? 'A lot of things,' says Sudhakaran. How hard could it be to manage a group of players in an indoor sport, compared to handling a large-scale outdoor sporting event? A familiar name on the chess circuit, Sudhakaran wears multiple hats at open and invitational events, not just across India, but globally. The first Indian appointed as Deputy Chief Arbiter at the 44th Chess Olympiad and a fair-play officer at multiple World Championships – including the 2023 title clash between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren – he brings vast experience to the table. 'Unlike invitational events, which are smaller, we can't announce open tournament dates a year in advance,' Sudhakaran explains. 'We must account for numerous factors. To accommodate so many players, we need a large, suitable venue. That's where it all begins, selecting a space based on expected entries.' 'We estimated around 2,000 to 2,200 players for this event, considering past trends and ongoing tournaments in India,' he says. Sudhakaran was entrusted with ensuring the smooth conduct of the Delhi GM Open — a responsibility spanning everything from releasing event details and inviting players to negotiate appearance fees, booking flights, arranging stays, accommodating special requests, and even managing last-minute withdrawals (including refund demands for no-shows). 'Organising a tournament of this scale requires months of detailed planning, coordination, and complete dedication. It involves more than just managing logistics,' says Bharat Singh Chauhan, DCA president and chairman of the organising committee. Unlike Open events in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and Kottayam – which face fewer logistical challenges due to limited entries – the Delhi Open stands apart in scale and significance. The tournament has served as a historic milestone for many players, most notably when current World Champion D Gukesh earned his final GM norm here in 2019, becoming one of the youngest Grandmasters in the game. International Arbiter and former interim AICF Secretary Vipnesh Bhardwaj explains the tournament's appeal: 'Everyone waits for the Delhi Open — it's the most anticipated event for players. Delhi's geographical location makes it easily accessible, with all transport options available. Add to that good organisation, which takes care of everything, and of course, the legacy of the event.' According to Sudhakaran, when a tournament of this scale begins on schedule, half the battle is already won. So what's next on his priority list? 'A good night's sleep – first and foremost,' he chuckles.
Hans India
a day ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Delhi GM Open 2025: Deepan Chakkravarthy, Narayanan, Sivuk among leaders after Day 2
Day 2 of the 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2025 brought double the drama as players faced off in Rounds 2 and 3 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur. With two classical-format games scheduled for the day, stamina and precision were put to the test as early leaders began to emerge. India's top seed GM Narayanan S L (2600) continued his flawless run, moving to 3/3 after defeating Arnav Agarwal (2096) in Round 3. Joining him at the top of the table are GM Deepan Chakkravarthy (2410), GM Vitaly Sivuk (2522), GM Mihail Nikitenko (2520), GM Karthik Venkataraman (2550), GM Abhijeet Gupta (2538), and IM Arsen Davtyan (2402), all of whom registered three wins in three rounds. The leaderboard remains tightly packed heading into an exciting Day 3. IM Aronyak Ghosh (2510) also maintained his perfect score with a composed win over Guru Prakash, keeping pace with the front-runners in a fiercely competitive field. The day was equally memorable for India's emerging crop of players. Vairaj Sogerwal, still riding high on his Round 1 upset over GM Karen H Grigoryan, continued to showcase resilience against stronger opponents. Singh Arshpreet (2075) moved to 2/3 with another composed showing, while FM J Ramakrishna (2036) and CM Akila Kavinda (2010) also stood at 2 points. Adding to the surprises, Sai Kuchibhotla (2014) delivered a gritty performance to hold GM Tornike Sanikidse (2425) to a draw, a result that exemplifies the rising standard of India's grassroots chess talent. Now in its 21st edition, the Delhi GM Open has cemented its place as Asia's largest classical-format open chess tournament. With over 2,500 players from 20+ countries, including 24 Grandmasters, and a record prize pool of ₹1.21 crore, the tournament continues to offer a platform for India's brightest prospects to take on global heavyweights. Organized under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, the event remains a cornerstone of India's competitive chess calendar and a true celebration of the sport's growing appeal.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament inaugurated; Minister Parvesh Verma lauds young talent
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The 21st edition of the Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament was officially inaugurated in the national capital, marking a significant occasion in the Indian chess calendar. Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma praised India's up-and-coming chess players at the event and offered his best wishes to the young players. Minister Verma said at the inauguration, 'The first Grandmaster Delhi Chess Tournament has been inaugurated. I convey my best wishes to all the children. India is very proud of the achievements of all our children, whether it is our Gukesh (Dommaraju) or Vaishali (Rameshbabu).' He further praised the organisers' and the chess fraternity's efforts in nurturing young talent and bringing the game to such a prominent stage. 'Many congratulations to all, and I convey my best wishes to the Federation and the Association for organising such a good tournament here at such a good level,' he added. With a record prize pool of Rs 1.21 crore, the Delhi International Open Grandmasters chess tournament is all set for its 21st edition from June 7 to 14 at Tivoli Gardens, Chattarpur, New Delhi. 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. Organised under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, the Delhi GM Open has grown into the largest classical-format chess tournament in Asia by participation. This year, the Delhi GM Open will host over 2,500 players from over 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 has a Rs 51 lakh prize pool 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 Rs7,00,000, Rs6,00,000, and Rs5,00,000 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. (ANI)
