Chennai Grand Masters Chess Tournament Delayed Due to Venue Fire

Chennai, Aug 6 (PTI) – The much-anticipated Chennai Grand Masters chess tournament, which draws top-tier talent from India and abroad, has been postponed to Thursday following a fire incident at its venue, the Hyatt Regency hotel. The third installment of this tournament was initially planned to kick off on Wednesday.

Indian Grandmaster and tournament director Srinath Narayanan shared the update on his X handle, stating, “Fire at Hotel Hyatt Regency last night, the venue of the Chennai GM. All the players are safe and shifted to another hotel nearby. Tournament postponed by a day.”

Although players were later brought back to the Hyatt Regency, the tournament’s commencement has been deferred by one day to allow for comprehensive safety inspections. As reported by ChessBase India, “Close to midnight there was an emergency at the Hotel Hyatt Regency in Chennai. An electric fire on the ninth floor rendered the entire hotel smoky, necessitating an evacuation before breathing became difficult.”

While the tournament's timeline remains unchanged, organizers have decided to eliminate the rest day initially planned in the schedule. “The timings will stay the same, and the tournament will conclude on August 15. However, the rest day has been removed,” informed the organizers to PTI.

The Chennai Grand Masters boasts a prize fund of Rs one crore and features elite competitors including India's No.1 Arjun Erigaisi, the experienced Vidit Gujrathi, and Dutch master Anish Giri. World No. 5 Erigaisi is set to launch his campaign against American prodigy Awonder Liang.

The eagerly awaited matchup of Indian grandmasters Erigaisi and Gujrathi is scheduled for Round 8 on August 14. Unlike its previous editions, which comprised seven rounds, this year’s tournament will witness participation from 19 Grandmasters and is crucial for earning FIDE Circuit points.

These points are essential for securing a berth in the 2026 Candidates Tournament—a qualifying path successfully navigated by reigning world champion D Gukesh, whose strong performance here last year earned him a spot.

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