PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 19: Fresh from qualifying for the semifinals of the Fide World Cup at Baku, Azerbaijan, R Praggnanandhaa will headline the competition at the fifth edition of Tata Steel Chess India (TSCI) is going to be held from August 31 – September 9, at National Library, Kolkata.
The women’s fray, too, showcases the best in the game with current World Champion Wenjun Ju making her TSCI debut. Like last year, the tournament will have both Open and Women Category with same format – rapid and blitz.
Top International Grandmasters, top Indian men and women Grandmasters, young Indian talents and Viswanathan Anand as the ambassador of the tournament will enrich this year’s competition.
The four Indians stars who qualified for the Quarter Finals at the FIDE World Cup in Baku – namely Gukesh D, Vidit Gujrathi, R. Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi will all be in Kolkata to compete at the Tata Steel Chess India.
The prize fund for both the open and women’s category will be equal, which is $41,500.
Viswanathan Anand, ambassador of Tata Steel Chess India on the occasion said, “I am extremely delighted that chess is slowly but steadily becoming a global sport which is being followed widely. Tournaments like Tata Steel Chess India where our young players fight it out with International Grandmasters really help the cause of producing newer champions. This format has already shown some results, as is visible with our young brigade doing well at international tournaments – such as the ongoing World Cup in Baku. The Indian squad at the Asian Games for both men and women are participating at the Tata Steel Chess India, which itself is a testimony about the standard of the tournament”
Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel said, “Sports has been a way of life for us at Tata Steel for over a century now. We continue to promote sporting activities and thereby engaging with the community in a conscious and meaningful way. In this 5th Edition of the Tata Steel Chess India, we are excited to host 20 world ranked players in both categories – women and men. Four of the players you will be witnessing in action during TSCI, had qualified for the quarter finals of the Chess World Cup being currently held in Baku. We are encouraged by the enthusiasm and participation we have received from the city of Kolkata over the past years, and are determined to make this world class chess competition even better.”
