Chennai
Close on the heels of conducting its annual Chennai Open, the association has come forward to help its women players with a 12-player round-robin tournament, which will be held from January 28 to February 4 here. The 11-round event, with an average rating of 2229 (category 8), will offer GM norms of nine games (with seven points), 10 games (7 points) and 11 games (7.5 points).
For the two Tamil Nadu girls in the fray, Michelle Catherina and Varshini, this will be their best chance to complete their WGM titles. The Velammal Group, which has helped players such as D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Karthikeyan Murali, Aravindh Chithambaram and R Vaishali, is the sponsor of the tournament.
Six women Intl Masters from India will take up the challenge against six foreign titled players. The All India Chess Federation has acknowledged the strength of TN while adding the tournament to its calendar. The event carries a prize fund of Rs 7.5 lakh, with the winner getting Rs 1.5 lakh.
List of Indian Women International Masters who seek Grandmaster Norm:
Aakanksha Hagawane (Elo 2259), Sapale Saloni (2198), Michelle Catherina P (2175), Varshini V (2171), Divya Deshmukh (2168), Chandreyee Hajra (1925).
List of foreign players invited: IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag (2428) Mongolia, IM Osmak Iulija (2394) Ukraine, IM Nakhbayeva Guliskhan (2336) Kazakhstan, WGM Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh (2314) Mongolia, WGM Babiy Olga (2275) Ukraine, WIM Franco Valencia Angela (2107) Colombia.
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