No Gukesh Or Praggnanandhaa At Chennai Grand Masters 2025? Here’s Why
The much-anticipated third edition of the Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament kicks off this Wednesday, bringing together top players like Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Anish Giri, and Jorden van Foreest — but notably missing are India’s two biggest stars: D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa.
Despite their absence, the event promises to be the biggest yet, with a record ₹1 crore prize pool, an expanded format, and a growing reputation as one of the premier classical chess events in India.
What’s New This Year?
Running from August 7 to 15, the 2025 edition marks a key evolution:
- Nine-round round-robin classical format (up from seven rounds in previous editions)
- Masters and Challengers sections, with the latter aimed at promoting India’s upcoming talent
Why Gukesh and Pragg Are Missing
The absence of reigning World Champion D Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa R has raised eyebrows, especially since the tournament is being held in Chennai, widely regarded as the heartland of Indian chess.
Tournament Director GM Srinath Narayanan addressed this openly:
“Ideally, we would have loved to have Gukesh and Pragg playing. But this year, we had to clash our event with the Grand Chess Tour because the calendar was insanely full. We simply didn’t get any free dates,” he explained.
Gukesh will be participating in the St. Louis Rapid and Blitz (August 10–15), a key event on the Grand Chess Tour. Praggnanandhaa is also committed to a packed international schedule, making it impossible to fit in the Chennai event this year.
Srinath expressed hope for future editions:
“Whenever they are available, we would certainly love to have them. Hopefully, we can schedule it at a time when it doesn’t clash with another major event.”
Chennai Grand Masters: A Launchpad for Indian Talent
Even in their absence, the tournament continues to play a crucial role in Indian chess. Over the past two years, winners of the Chennai Grand Masters have used the platform as a stepping stone to global recognition:
- Gukesh (2023 winner) went on to claim the World Champion title
- Aravindh Chithambaram (2024 winner) also gained international spotlight
Srinath summed up the tournament’s goal:
“We’ve seen a tradition emerge — young talent winning here and then shining globally. We aim to keep unearthing more such stars.”
Bottom Line
While Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa may be missing this year, the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 remains a marquee event — not just a celebration of elite chess, but a critical platform for India’s next generation of grandmasters.
