Chennai Grandmasters | Arjun would be the one to beat in a powerful Masters subject

There’s one thing about chess and Chennai. The land of the legendary Viswanathan Anand will see among the world’s finest battle it out within the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters event 2025 starting right here on Wednesday.

World No. 5 Arjun Erigaisi headlines a powerful 10-player Masters subject and would be the one to beat. Anish Giri is the second highest rated participant within the part and the Tenth-ranked Dutchman is anticipated to offer a powerful problem for the ₹25 lakh prime prize.

The skilled Vidit Gujrathi, Karthikeyan Murali, Nihal Sarin and Pranav Venkatesh are the opposite Indians within the fray because the host gamers are anticipated to mount a powerful problem for the title.

The world No. 21 Vincent Keymer from Germany will look to make an impression and take an enormous step in direction of qualification for the Candidates event whereas the American duo of Awonder Liang and Ray Robson and Giri’s compatriot Jorden Van Foreest, all advantageous gamers in their very own proper, might be hoping to struggle it out for prime honours.

Keymer had remarked on Monday that with many younger and impressive gamers within the fray, he anticipated a whole lot of intently fought video games.

Arjun, who missed out on making it to the Candidates occasion in 2024, could be eager to strike gold right here and earn essential FIDE circuit factors.

Karthikeyan, who was promoted to the Masters class due to Vladimir Fedoseev’s withdrawal, will fancy a couple of upsets.

In the Challengers occasion, IM G.B. Harshavardhan acquired a late call-up after Karthikeyan was moved to the Masters and could be testing out his wits in opposition to established names similar to Pa. Iniyan, Abhimanyu Puranik, D. Harika and R. Vaishali. The Challengers’ winner will guide a spot within the Masters occasion subsequent 12 months.