Chennai Grandmasters: Arjun Erigaisi to Face Stiff Competition from Vidit Gujrathi, Anish Giri
Arjun Erigaisi will face strong opposition from Vidit Gujrathi and Anish Giri in the Chennai Grandmasters chess championship starting on Monday.
India’s top-ranked player Arjun Erigaisi is set to encounter tough resistance from experienced compatriot Vidit Gujrathi and the Netherlands’ leading Grandmaster Anish Giri during the expanded third edition of the Chennai Grandmasters chess championship, which begins on Monday.
The tournament, which carries a winner’s prize of ₹1 crore, will be played for the first time over nine rounds in a classical round-robin format, across both the Masters and Challengers categories.
Earlier held over seven rounds, this edition will now include 19 Grandmasters and offer crucial FIDE Circuit points. These points are vital for qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, similar to how they helped current world champion D Gukesh gain entry into the Candidates.
Erigaisi, who has now entered the elite 2800 FIDE rating club, will also face stiff opposition from rising talent Nihal Sarin and Germany’s 20-year-old Grandmaster Vincent Keymer, who served as Gukesh’s second during last year’s World Championship. Nevertheless, his most formidable opponent is expected to be Anish Giri, whose vast experience and highly solid playing style make him one of the favourites to win the event.
In addition to the big names, Indian players Pranav V and Karthikeyan Murali also have the potential to spring surprises and produce impressive performances.
This edition marks a major expansion, with the event growing into a 20-player contest split into two 10-player groups — the Masters and the Challengers. This new format offers a clear route for upcoming talents to rise to the highest level, with the winner of the Challengers securing a direct entry into the 2026 Masters.
Meanwhile, the Challengers section also features equally exciting players, including D Harika, a key member of the gold medal-winning women’s team at the 45th Chess Olympiad last year. Other notable participants include R Vaishali, Harshvardhan GB, Abhimanyu Puranik, and veteran Grandmaster Adhiban Baskaran, who is well known for his attacking style of play.
