Overview

• The 20-player event is split into separate nine-round Masters and Challengers sections, up from seven rounds previously.
• A record Rs 1 crore purse makes this edition the richest in the tournament’s three-year history.
• Pranav V, the reigning FIDE World Junior Champion and 2024 Challengers winner, debuts in the Masters alongside Arjun Erigaisi, Anish Giri and Vidit Gujrathi.
• Vladimir Fedoseev’s late withdrawal promoted Karthikeyan Murali to the Masters and opened a spot in the Challengers for IM Harshvardhan GB.
• Participants will compete for crucial FIDE Circuit points that could secure places in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.