BootTPP at 20:42, 1 May 2026

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{{Short description|Annual chess tournament held in Chennai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox tournament
| name = Chennai Grand Masters
| image =
| caption =
| sport = [[Chess]]
| location = [[Chennai]], India
| established = 2023
| format = [[Round-robin tournament]]
}}

The '''Chennai Grand Masters''' is an annual closed [[chess tournament]] held in Chennai, India.

[[Vincent Keymer]] won the most recent edition in 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sundar |first=C. Shyam |date=2025-08-14 |title=The strongest classical tournament I have won: Keymer |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/the-strongest-classical-tournament-i-have-won-keymer/article69934037.ece |access-date=2025-08-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McGourty |first=Colin |date=2025-08-14 |title=Keymer Wins Chennai Grand Masters With Round To Spare |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-keymer-wins-chennai-grand-masters-round-8 |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Winners ==
{|class=wikitable
!#
!Year
!Winner
|-
|1
|2023
|{{flagathlete|[[Gukesh Dommaraju]]|India}}
|-
|2
|2024
|{{flagathlete|[[Aravindh Chithambaram]]|India}}
|-
|3
|2025
|{{flagathlete|[[Vincent Keymer]]|Germany}}
|}

== 2023 ==
The 2023 Chennai Grand Masters was organized from 15 December to 21 December at [[The Leela Palace Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venkatesan |first=S. Prasanna |date=2024-11-05 |title=Chennai Grandmasters {{!}} Arjun rallies to post a win over Vidit on opening day |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/chennai-grandmasters-arjun-rallies-to-post-a-win-over-vidit-on-opening-day/article68833461.ece |access-date=2024-11-28 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It was organized by MGD1, NODWIN Gaming, and [[ChessBase]] India, with support from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu Government]] and Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-11 |title=Chennai Grand Masters 2023 - India's strongest ever Classical Super Tournament - ChessBase India |url=https://chessbase.in/news/Chennai-Grand-Masters-2023 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.chessbase.in}}</ref>

The tournament was announced only 4 days prior to its start, which led to criticism that the tournament was held at the last minute to help [[Gukesh Dommaraju]] and [[Arjun Erigaisi]] qualify for the [[Candidates Tournament 2024]]. However, [[FIDE]] deputy president [[Viswanathan Anand]] explained that the organization of the tournament is within the rules.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venkata Krishna B. |date=2023-12-16 |title=Chess controversy: Is Chennai Grand Masters held just to help Gukesh & Erigaisi make candidates cut? 'Within rules' says Viswanathan Anand |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/chess/is-chennai-grand-masters-to-help-gukesh-erigaisi-make-candidates-viswanathan-anand-9071113/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayank |date=2023-12-18 |title=Anand weighs in on Chennai Grand Masters controversy, says tournament within FIDE rules |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/chess/chennai-grand-masters-organised-within-fide-rules-gukesh-arjun-chase-candidates-2024-spot/article67650380.ece |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref>

After the seventh round, Gukesh and Arjun were tied for the first place with 4.5 points each. The [[Sonneborn–Berger score]] was used as the tie-breaker, and Gukesh emerged victorious.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2023-12-21 |title=Gukesh wins title on tie-break, becomes frontrunner for FIDE Circuit Candidates berth |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/gukesh-wins-title-on-tie-break-becomes-frontrunner-for-fide-circuit-candidates-berth/article67663135.ece |access-date=2024-11-28 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;
|+1st Chennai Grand Masters, 15–21 December 2023, [[Chennai]], India, [[Chess tournament#Tournament categories|Category XIX (2711)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Chennai Grand Masters 2023 |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr864875.aspx?lan=1&art=4&turdet=YES&flag=30 |website=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
!
!Player
!Rating
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!Points
![[Sonneborn–Berger score|SB]]
|-style="background:#ccffcc"
|1
|align="left"|'''{{flagathlete|[[Gukesh Dommaraju]]|India}}'''
|2720
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|½
|½
|½
|1
|1
|'''4½'''
|align="right"|13.75
|-
|2
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Arjun Erigaisi]]|India}}
|2727
|½
|{{CNone}}
|0
|½
|½
|1
|1
|1
|4½
|align="right"|13.00
|-
|3
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Pentala Harikrishna]]|India}}
|2696
|½
|1
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|½
|½
|½
|4
|align="right"|14.25
|-
|4
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Pavel Eljanov]]|Ukraine}}
|2691
|½
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|0
|1
|4
|align="right"|13.25
|-
|5
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Levon Aronian]]|USA}}
|2723
|½
|½
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|½
|3½
|align="right"|12.25
|-
|6
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Parham Maghsoodloo]]|Iran}}
|2742
|½
|0
|½
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|1
|3½
|align="right"|10.00
|-
|7
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Sanan Sjugirov]]|Hungary}}
|2703
|0
|0
|½
|1
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|½
|2½
|align="right"|8.50
|-
|8
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Alexandr Predke]]|Serbia}}
|2689
|0
|0
|½
|0
|½
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1½
|align="right"|5.00
|}

== 2024 ==
The 2024 edition was India's strongest classical super-tournament of the year. It was held from 5 November to 11 November at the [[Anna Centenary Library]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team Sportstar |date=2024-11-04 |title=Chennai Grand Masters 2024 guide: Preview, player list, pairing, full schedule, FIDE circuit points at stake |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/chess/chennai-chess-grand-masters-2024-full-schedule-preview-pairings-fide-circuit-points/article68830279.ece |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref>

After the seventh round, there was a three-way tie between [[Levon Aronian]], Arjun Erigaisi, and [[Aravindh Chithambaram]]. Aravindh was declared the winner after tiebreaks. The challengers section was won by [[Pranav V|V. Pranav]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Venkatesan |first=S. Prasanna |date=2024-11-11 |title=Aravindh stuns Aronian to claim top prize |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/aravindh-stuns-aronian-to-claim-top-prize/article68856755.ece |access-date=2024-11-28 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Masters ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;
|+ 2nd Chennai Grand Masters, 5–11 November 2024, [[Chennai]], India, [[Chess tournament#Tournament categories|Category XIX (2725)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Chennai Grand Masters 2024 |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr1053415.aspx?lan=1&art=4&turdet=YES&flag=30 |website=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
!
!Player
!Rating
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!Points
|-
|-style="background:#ccffcc"
|1
|align="left"|'''{{flagathlete|[[Aravindh Chithambaram]]|India}}'''
|2706
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|½
|½
|1
|½
|½
|'''4½'''
|-
|2
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Levon Aronian]]|USA}}
|2739
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|1
|1
|½
|½
|4½
|-
|3
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Arjun Erigaisi]]|India}}
|2799
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|½
|1
|1
|4½
|-
|4
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Amin Tabatabaei]]|Iran}}
|2686
|½
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|1
|½
|4
|-
|5
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Maxime Vachier-Lagrave]]|France}}
|2737
|½
|0
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|½
|3
|-
|6
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Parham Maghsoodloo]]|Iran}}
|2712
|0
|0
|½
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|2½
|-
|7
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Alexey Sarana]]|Serbia}}
|2679
|½
|½
|0
|0
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|2½
|-
|8
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Vidit Gujrathi]]|India}}
|2739
|½
|½
|0
|½
|½
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|2½
|}
====Tiebreaks====
The tiebreak was a two-game [[Blitz chess|blitz]] match, followed by an [[Armageddon chess|armageddon]] if necessary. The time control was 3 minutes with a 2-second increment per move.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saravanan (VSaravanan) |first=Venkatachalam |date=2024-11-11 |title=Aravindh Wins 2024 Chennai Grand Masters Through Tiebreak |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/aravindh-wins-2024-chennai-grand-masters |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Aravindh was given a bye because he had a better score in terms of direct encounters, beating Arjun in their game.<ref name=":0" /> He then won the final match against Levon Aronian, who had proceeded after holding a draw as black in the armageddon game.

{{3TeamBracket
|RD1=
|RD1-team1='''{{flagicon|USA}} [[Levon Aronian]]'''
|RD1-score1='''1½'''
|RD1-team2={{flagicon|India}} [[Arjun Erigaisi]]
|RD1-score2=1½
|RD2=
|RD2-team1='''{{flagicon|India}} [[Aravindh Chithambaram]]'''
|RD2-score1='''2'''
|RD2-seed2=2
|RD2-team2={{flagicon|USA}} [[Levon Aronian]]
|RD2-score2=0
}}

=== Challengers ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;
|+1st Chennai Grand Masters Challengers, 5–11 November 2024, [[Chennai]], India, [[Chess tournament#Tournament categories|Category XIV (2594)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Chennai Grand Masters Challengers 2024 |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr1053416.aspx?lan=1&art=4&turdet=YES&flag=30 |website=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
!
!Player
!Rating
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!Points
|-
|-style="background:#ccffcc"
|1
|align="left"|'''{{flagicon|India}} [[Pranav V]]'''
|2602
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|1
|1
|½
|1
|1
|'''5½'''
|-
|2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Leon Luke Mendonca]]
|2631
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|½
|½
|1
|1
|5
|-
|3
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Raunak Sadhwani]]
|2677
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|½
|½
|½
|4
|-
|4
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Karthikeyan Murali]]
|2625
|0
|0
|0
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|1
|1
|3½
|-
|5
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Abhimanyu Puranik]]
|2652
|0
|½
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|1
|3½
|-
|6
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Pranesh M]]
|2580
|½
|½
|½
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|3½
|-
|7
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Harika Dronavalli]]
|2493
|0
|0
|½
|0
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|2
|-
|8
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} [[Vaishali Rameshbabu]]
|2490
|0
|0
|½
|0
|0
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|}

== 2025 ==
The 2025 edition was India's strongest classical super-tournament of the year. It was held from 7 August to 15 August at the [[Hyatt Regency Chennai]], after a one-day delay caused by a [https://www.newsonair.gov.in/chennai-grand-masters-2025-postponed-after-fire-at-hyatt-regency/ fire incident at the players’ hotel].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters Brochure|url=https://aicf.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Quantbox-CGM-brochure-2025.pdf|access-date=2025-07-04|website=aicf.in|language=en}}</ref>

[[Vincent Keymer]] won the tournament with one round to spare. [[Pranesh M]] won in the Challengers section. <ref>{{cite web|last=McGourty |first=Colin |title=Keymer Crosses 2750, Giri Takes 2nd, Pranesh Wins Challengers|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-chennai-grand-masters-round-9|website=Chess.com}}</ref>
=== Masters ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;
|+ 3rd Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters, 7–16 August 2025, [[Chennai]], India, [[Chess tournament#Tournament categories|Category XVIII (2700)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Chennai Grand Masters 2025 |url=https://s3.chess-results.com/tnrWZ.aspx?lan=1&art=1&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0&tno=1230063 |website=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
!
!Player
!Rating
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!9
!10
!Points
|-
|-style="background:#ccffcc"
|1
|align="left"|'''{{flagathlete|[[Vincent Keymer]]|Germany}}'''
|'''2730'''
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|1
|1
|1
|½
|½
|1
|1
|'''7'''
|-
|2
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Anish Giri]]|Netherlands}}
|2748
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|½
|½
|½
|1
|½
|½
|5
|-
|3
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Arjun Erigaisi]]|India}}
|2776
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|0
|1
|½
|½
|½
|1
|5
|-
|4
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Karthikeyan Murali]]|India}}
|2658
|0
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|1
|1
|½
|½
|5
|-
|5
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Nihal Sarin]]|India}}
|2692
|0
|½
|1
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|0
|0
|1
|1
|4½
|-
|6
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Awonder Liang]]|United States}}
|2696
|0
|½
|0
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|1
|½
|4½
|-
|7
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Vidit Gujrathi]]|India}}
|2720
|½
|½
|½
|0
|1
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|0
|4
|-
|8
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Jorden van Foreest]]|Netherlands}}
|2697
|½
|0
|½
|0
|1
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|4
|-
|9
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Pranav V]]|India}}
|2597
|0
|½
|½
|½
|0
|0
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|3
|-
|10
|align="left"|{{flagathlete|[[Ray Robson]]|United States}}
|2687
|0
|½
|0
|½
|0
|½
|1
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|3
|}

=== Challengers ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;
|+2nd Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters Challengers, 7–16 August 2025, [[Chennai]], India, [[Chess tournament#Tournament categories|Category XIII (2558)]]<ref name=challengers>{{cite web |title=Chennai Grand Masters - Challengers 2025 |url=https://s1.chess-results.com/tnrWZ.aspx?lan=1&art=1&turdet=YES&flag=30&SNode=S0&tno=1230064 |website=Chess-results.com}}</ref>
!
!Player
!Rating
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!9
!10
!Points
|-
|-style="background:#ccffcc"
|1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} GM '''[[Pranesh M]]'''
|'''2589'''
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|½
|1
|½
|0
|1
|1
|1
|'''6½'''
|-
|2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} GM [[Adhiban Baskaran]]
|2534
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|½
|1
|1
|½
|½
|½
|6
|-
|3
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} GM [[Abhimanyu Puranik]]
|2635
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|0
|1
|1
|½
|1
|1
|6
|-
|4
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} GM [[Leon Luke Mendonca]]
|2606
|½
|0
|0
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|1
|1
|1
|1
|6
|-
|5
|align="left"|{{flagicon|IND}} GM [[P. Iniyan]]
|2586
|0
|½
|1
|½
|{{CNone}}
|½
|½
|1
|1
|½
|5½
|-
|6
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} GM [[Diptayan Ghosh]]
|2576
|½
|0
|0
|0
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|½
|1
|1
|4½
|-
|7
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} IM [[Harshavardhan G. B.]]
|2454
|1
|0
|0
|0
|½
|0
|{{CNone}}
|½
|1
|1
|4
|-
|8
|align="left"|{{flagicon|India}} GM [[Aryan Chopra]]
|2634
|0
|½
|½
|0
|0
|½
|½
|{{CNone}}
|1
|1
|4
|-
|9
|align="left"|{{flagicon|IND}} GM [[Harika Dronavalli]]
|2487
|0
|½
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|{{CNone}}
|1
|1½
|-
|10
|align="left"| {{flagicon|India}} GM [[Vaishali Rameshbabu]]
|2476
|0
|½
|0
|0
|½
|0
|0
|0
|0
|{{CNone}}
|1
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Chess tournaments}}
[[Category:Invitational chess tournaments]]
[[Category:Chess in India]]
[[Category:International sports competitions hosted by India]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2023]]
[[Category:2023 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Chennai]]

Chennai Grand Masters - Revision history

BootTPP at 20:42, 1 May 2026