Mumbai, June 9 (IANS) In all 58 leading chess players representing 16 countries will comprise the star-studded field that will be fighting for the various titles in the Masters Section (Category A) of the Masters Chess Tournament, which will be played at the Expo Hall, World Trade Centre, from June 10 to 18.

The 58 contestants in the field include four Grandmasters, 34 International Masters, six FIDE Masters, two Women International Masters, and two Candidate Masters.

The Masters Section is the flagship event of the Rs 60 lakh prize money Global Chess Festival, organised by Indian Chess School. It brings together some strong players from India and around the world, with an average rating of 2359. Conducted in a classical format of 9-Round Swiss League, the tournament provides an ideal platform for players to compete for rating points, title norms, and substantial prize money. Offering a total prize fund of Rs 35 lakh, the winner will take home a purse of Rs 8 lakh.

GM Iniyan Pa of Tamil Nadu, the reigning National Champion, is the top seed, with a rating of 2573, followed by GM Sankalp Gupta (2553) and GM Abhijeet Gupta (2540). While India has 32 players in the fray, the other countries represented are Belarus, Egypt, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Scotland, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, Costa Rica, Cuba, and FIDE.

Running concurrently will be the 360 One Global Challengers B Category Tournament and the Junior Masters tournament. The B Category will serve as the perfect platform for ambitious players aspiring to reach the elite Masters level. Open to players rated below 2300, the Challengers Section offers a rare opportunity to compete in a world-class tournament environment while testing their skills against strong and experienced opposition. The 2026 edition has attracted an impressive field of 225 players, making it one of the largest sections of the festival.

The winner of the Challengers Section will earn a direct qualification to the 2027 Masters Tournament, irrespective of rating. This pathway provides talented players with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete alongside Grandmasters and International Masters in the flagship event of the festival.

Leading the field is FM Madhvendra Pratap Sharma (2373), supported by a strong contingent of titled players and rising stars eager to make their mark.

The Junior Masters Chess Tournament is the crown jewel of junior chess and is proudly billed as the richest tournament for Juniors in the country, offering an impressive prize fund of Rs 10 lakh. Created with the vision of providing young talents a world-class platform to showcase their abilities, the event has become one of the most sought-after tournaments on the global junior chess calendar.

The 2026 edition has attracted 125 young players from India, the United States, and Zambia, with an average age of just 11 years, highlighting the remarkable depth of emerging talent in the game today. Over the years, the Junior Masters has earned a reputation for identifying future stars of world chess. Former participants and champions include some of India’s brightest talents, such as D. Gukesh, the reigning World Champion, R. Praggnanandhaa, Divya Deshmukh, and Pranav Venkatesh, all of whom have gone on to achieve remarkable success on the international stage.

Adding further prestige to the event is a landmark initiative introduced by the organisers. Beginning this year, the champion of the Junior Masters Section will receive a direct qualification to the 2027 Masters Tournament, irrespective of rating. This unique pathway allows a young champion to earn the opportunity to compete alongside Grandmasters and International Masters in the festival’s flagship event.

–IANS

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