CHENNAI: India’s strongest classical chess tournament, the Chennai Grand Masters, returns for its fourth edition from July 16–22 at The Westin Chennai Velachery, bringing together one of its strongest fields yet.

Featuring eight elite Masters competing for a combined Rs 75 lakh prize pool, the tournament once again offers valuable FIDE Circuit points as players continue their pursuit of qualification for the next Candidates Tournament.

The Masters field is headlined by reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and India’s second-ever 2800-rated player Arjun Erigaisi. Joining them are former World Rapid Champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, two-time Grand Chess Tour champion Alireza Firouzja, 2026 Bullet Chess Champion Nihal Sarin, former Candidates challenger Dmitry Andreikin, American Grandmaster Hans Niemann, and last year’s Challengers champion Pranesh M, who earns promotion to the Masters after his title-winning campaign.

For the first time, the tournament will introduce the Opening Moves Photoslot ticket, giving fans an exclusive opportunity to enter the tournament hall with their phones and cameras to film some of the world’s biggest chess stars.