New Delhi: More than 500 players from 15 countries including India and Russia will participate in the International Grandmasters Chess Tournament starting from today in Raipuram, Chhattisgarh.
The tournament is being organised under the joint aegis of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the Chhattisgarh government, the All India Chess Federation and the Chhattisgarh Olympic Association, the organisers said on Saturday. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister will give away trophies and cash prizes to the winners.
Local bodies elated for the event
“It is a special occasion for us that for the first time a competition of this level is being held here. The tournament, to be held from September 19 to September 28, will see more than 500 players from 15 countries posing under the guidance of over 100 experienced Masters,” the organisers added.
So far, players from 15 countries including Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, USA, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland, Vietnam, Colombia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Nepal have been registered here.
This will be the prize money of the winners
They said that this tournament will also provide an opportunity to the players to improve their ratings, achieve GM and IM norms. The tournament will be played in two categories – Masters and Challengers.
In this, Rs 23 lakh and trophy will be given in the Masters category, while Rs 12 lakh in the Challengers category and the trophy winners will be given. Officials associated with the organizing committee said that six Grandmasters, 17 International Masters, two Women Grandmasters, eight Women International Masters, five FIDE Masters and 200 ILO rated players are going to participate in this tournament, which is a huge achievement in itself.