Mumbai International Chess Tournament 2025 Returns with ₹40 Lakh Prize Pool
Aurionpro Grandmaster and Junior Chess Tournaments to Feature 400+ Players from 17 Countries
Mumbai, June 15: The chessboards are being dusted off and the clocks reset as the 6th Aurionpro Mumbai International Grandmaster Chess Tournament gears up to return after a five-year hiatus. Slated from June 16 to 24, 2025, the event promises to be one of the most significant in India’s chess calendar this year, blending elite competition with grassroots energy at Mumbai’s World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade.
Revived After COVID Pause, Returns Bigger and Bolder
Originally launched in 2016, the Mumbai International was forced into a pause following the global COVID-19 disruption. Now, it’s not just back—it’s back with scale and substance. As per the official tournament brochure on Scribd, the 2025 edition boasts a ₹40 lakh prize pool, with ₹25 lakh set aside for the Grandmaster Open and ₹15 lakh for the Junior (Under‑13) section—making it one of the most lucrative junior events globally.
According to Knocksense, the relaunch marks a major revival for the Mumbai chess ecosystem and offers a high-profile platform for emerging players.
A Star-Studded Grandmaster Line-Up
The GM Open has drawn over 400 participants from 17 countries, with 19 Grandmasters, 11 International Masters, and 4 Woman International Masters confirmed. As reported by UNI, the top seeds include:
- GM Levan Pantsulaia (Georgia)
- GM Petrosyan Manuel (Armenia)
- GM Luka Paichadze (Georgia)
All three are seasoned campaigners on the European circuit, bringing international flair to the Mumbai boardroom. The event follows a 9-round Swiss-system with accelerated pairings for the first three rounds, ensuring early high-stakes matchups and fewer “soft” pairings for top seeds.
Under-13 Talent Pool Steals Global Spotlight
The Junior Section, open to players born on or after January 1, 2012, is not just a sideshow—it’s a statement. This segment also follows a 9-round Swiss-system with each round timed at 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment. The format may be familiar, but the scale is historic: it features 70 players from six countries, according to Chess-Results.com, and offers the world’s largest prize pool ever for an Under-13 category.
FM Aansh Nandan Nerurkar (India), with a FIDE rating of 2356, is the top seed. As reported by LatestLY, he is joined by prodigies like CM Madhesh Kumar from Pondicherry and Avirat Chauhan from Maharashtra. The standout entry is 12-year-old WIM Oshini Gunawardhana from Sri Lanka—one of the most talked-about rising stars in South Asian chess.
This isn’t just about trophies. The ₹2 lakh top prize is among the largest for any junior player under 13 globally, giving the event genuine international weight.
Structured For Precision, But Built For Pressure
Both events will unfold at the Expo Hall, The Arcade, WTC Mumbai, a venue previously used in major business expos. But for these nine days, it becomes a battleground of calculation and nerves. The Junior event is slated for the mornings, leaving the afternoons open for mentoring, game analysis, and impromptu blitz duels among rising stars.
For the Grandmasters, the event structure demands unrelenting precision—no room for early slip-ups. With ₹4 lakh awarded to the first-place winner, the stakes are clear.
A Launchpad For India’s Next Generation
This tournament is not just about today’s champions. Past editions of the Mumbai International have served as springboards for names now etched in Indian chess history. According to Deccan Chronicle, alumni include GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Aditya Mittal, GM Leon Mendonca, and IM Divya Deshmukh. Former champions such as GM Gukesh Dommaraju (2018), GM Raunak Sadhwani (2016), and Pranav Venkatesh (2017) all trace pivotal career moments back to this very tournament.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Mumbai International is something of a talent forge—especially with India’s rapidly expanding chess base and institutional support.
Chess, Now with Corporate Backing
This year’s title sponsor, Aurionpro, signals a trend of increasing corporate investment in chess. From online viewership to live commentary and data analytics, chess is shedding its image of silence and solitude. With tech sponsors in play, the Mumbai International is expected to be streamed, tracked, and dissected like never before.
That said, nothing replaces the tension over the board—the quiet calculation before a move, the clock ticking under dimmed hall lights, and the audience hushed in anticipation. Mumbai’s chess renaissance begins now—and the countdown is nearly over.
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Anand Yadav is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, with a daily focus on delivering engaging sports news and analysis. Currently studying at Lucknow University, Anand is passionate about sports journalism and committed to providing well-researched insights into game dynamics, player performances, and the broader impact of sports. He consistently strives to keep our audience informed and entertained with his coverage.
- Anand Yadavhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/anand_y/
- Anand Yadavhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/anand_y/
- Anand Yadavhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/anand_y/
- Anand Yadavhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/anand_y/
