Chennai Grand Masters 2026: Complete list of players from D Gukesh to Hans Niemann, format, prize money and key details
D Gukesh and Hans Niemann Chennai Grand Masters 2026 returns from July 16 to July 22 at The Westin Chennai Velachery. The fourth edition of India’s strongest classical chess tournament will bring together some of the world’s best chess players. With reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju leading the field, the event has added significance as players compete not only for the title and a prize pool of Rs 75 lakh, but also for valuable FIDE Circuit points that could prove crucial in the race to qualify for the next Candidates tournament.The tournament features an elite Masters field of eight players led by World Champion Gukesh and India’s No. 2 ranked 2800 player Arjun Erigaisi.They are joined by Uzbekistan Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, India’s Nihal Sarin, Russia’s Dmitry Andreikin, US Grandmaster Hans Niemann and Pranesh M, who earned promotion after winning last year’s Challengers section.
Chennai Grand Masters Complete Lineup:
- Nodirbek Abdusattarov
- Arjun Erigaisi
- Alireza Firouzja
- Hans Niemann
- Gukesh Dommaraju
- Nihal Sarin
- Dmitry Andreykin
- Pranesh M
The combination of established stars and emerging talent makes it one of the strongest editions of the Chennai Grand Masters to date. As confirmed by the organizers to TimesofIndia.com, there will be no Challengers section this year.
Chennai Grand Masters 2026 Format Explained
The Masters event will be played in a single round-robin format, meaning that each of the eight players will face each other participant once. Each result will thus have a direct impact on the final ranking.Games will be played under a classic time control of 90 minutes per player with a 30 second increment from the first turn.Apart from the prize pool of Rs 75 lakh, players will also be aiming for FIDE Circuit points, which form an important part of the candidate’s qualification path to the next tournament. With several top world grandmasters in action, the Chennai Grand Masters is expected to play a significant role in shaping the international chess calendar this season.