The 2nd Namma Bengaluru International Grandmasters Open Chess Tournament 2025, organized by The Golden Aura Trust, promises to be a prestigious event for chess enthusiasts worldwide. With a total prize fund of ₹55,00,000, the tournament will be held from 10th to 18th April 2025 at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium (subject to change).
Featuring three categories – 1900+ (Category A), 2000 & below (Category B), and 1800 & below (Category C)—the event caters to players of all skill levels. Grandmasters, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs enjoy free entry, while special discounts are available for seniors, differently-abled players, and participants from India’s northeast.
Strict FIDE rules, 10-round Swiss systems, and anti-cheating measures ensure fair play. Accommodation, transportation, and multilingual support are provided for a seamless experience.
Whether you’re a titled player or an aspiring competitor, this tournament offers a thrilling platform to showcase your skills. Register now from the Tournaments Section and be part of Bengaluru’s grand chess celebration!
FOR PLAYERS ABOVE 1900 ONLY (CATEGORY)
ARRIVAL: 09th April 2025 at 1200 Hrs.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 10.04.2025 | 10.30 Hrs | Players Meeting |
| 10.04.2025 | 11.00 Hrs | Inauguration |
| 10.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 1 |
| 11.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 2 |
| 11.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 3 |
| 12.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 4 |
| 13.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 5 |
| 13.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 6 |
| 14.04.2025 | Rest Day / Blitz Tournament | |
| 15.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 7 |
| 16.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 8 |
| 17.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Round 9 |
| 18.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 10 |
| 18.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Prize Distribution |
Total Cash Prize Fund: ₹ 25,00,000/-
MAIN PRIZES
- ₹4,50,000 + Trophy
- ₹3,50,000 + Trophy
- ₹2,50,000 + Trophy
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 4 | ₹2,00,000 |
| 5 | ₹1,50,000 |
| 6 | ₹1,00,000 |
| 7 | ₹75,000 |
| 8 | ₹70,000 |
| 9 | ₹60,000 |
| 10 | ₹50,000 |
| 11 | ₹40,000 |
| 12 | ₹35,000 |
| 13 | ₹30,000 |
| 14 To 20 | ₹20,000 |
| 21 To 30 | ₹15,000 |
| 31 To 40 | ₹10,000 |
| 41 To 50 | ₹10,000 |
Additional Prizes:
- 3 Best 2299 Below Players: ₹12,000, ₹10,000 & ₹8,000
- 3 Best 2199 Below Players: ₹12,000, ₹10,000 & ₹8,000
- 3 Best 1999 Below Players: ₹12,000, ₹10,000 & ₹8,000
- 3 Best Karnataka Players: ₹12,000, ₹10,000 & ₹8,000
- 3 Best Female Players: ₹12,000, ₹10,000 & ₹8,000
Note: Indian Income Tax Act and Rules will be applicable. One player will be given one (higher) prize only.
ELIGIBILITY
Players with a rating above 1900 as on 01.04.2025 are eligible to participate.
ENTRY FEE
Free For GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs
| RATING CRITERIA | EARLY BIRD (Till 28th FEB 2025) | ENTRY FEE (After 28th FEB 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Rated 2400 and above | ₹5,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Rated 2300-2399 | ₹7,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Rated 2000-2299 | ₹8,000 | ₹9,000 |
| Rated 1900-1999 | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
Discounts:
- 50% off for North-east Players
- 50% off for Specially abled Players
- 50% off for Players aged 60 and above
Conditions apply for early bird offers!
Early bird offers not applicable for players availing 50% Discount.
Last date of entry: 05th April 2025
Entries with late fee of ₹500 up to 09th April 2025.
REGISTRATION
Please use the link below or scan the QR Code for Registration:
https://circlechess.com/registration?id=21815
TOURNAMENT RULES
System of Play:
The tournament will be conducted as per FIDE Laws of Chess and FIDE Swiss System with 10 rounds.
Time Control:
90 Minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 for the entire game.
Tie Break:
In case of a tie, the latest FIDE Rules shall come into effect. The Cash prizes will not be shared.
Accommodation:
All GMs/IMs/WGMs/WIMs will be provided free hotel accommodation on double sharing basis in an official star hotel from 09/04/2025 to 18/04/2025.
Lodging can be booked for participants on single/double/triple sharing basis. For details and tariff, kindly contact the accommodation in-charge.
FOR PLAYERS 2000 & BELOW
ARRIVAL: 09th April 2025 at 1200 Hrs.
ROUNDS: 10th April 2025 to 13th April 2025
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 10.04.2025 | 10.30 Hrs | Players Meeting |
| 10.04.2025 | 11.00 Hrs | Inauguration |
| 10.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 1 |
| 10.04.2025 | 17.30 Hrs | Round 2 |
| 11.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 3 |
| 11.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 4 |
| 11.04.2025 | 17.30 Hrs | Round 5 |
| 12.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 6 |
| 12.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 7 |
| 12.04.2025 | 17.30 Hrs | Round 8 |
| 13.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 9 |
| 13.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 10 |
| 13.04.2025 | 19.30 Hrs | Prize Distribution |
Total Cash Prize Fund: ₹ 15,00,000/-
MAIN PRIZES
- ₹1,00,000 + Trophy
- ₹80,000 + Trophy
- ₹70,000 + Trophy
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 4 | ₹60,000 |
| 5 | ₹55,000 |
| 6 | ₹40,000 |
| 7 | ₹35,000 |
| 8 | ₹30,000 |
| 9 | ₹25,000 |
| 10 | ₹20,000 |
| 11 To 20 | ₹17,500 |
| 21 To 30 | ₹15,000 |
| 31 To 40 | ₹12,000 |
Additional Prizes:
- Best Unrated: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹12,000 | 4th ₹10,000 | 5th & 6th ₹8,000 Each | 7th-10th ₹7,000 Each
- Best Below Elo 1600: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹12,000 | 4th ₹10,000 | 5th & 6th ₹8,000 Each | 7th-10th ₹7,000 Each
- Best Female: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹10,000 | 4th ₹7,000 | 5th ₹7,000
- Best Veteran (+60): 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹10,000 | 4th ₹7,000 | 5th ₹7,000
Note: Indian Income Tax Act and Rules will be applicable. One player will be given one (higher) prize only.
ELIGIBILITY
Players having the FIDE rating of 2000 & below from 01.04.2022 to 01.04.2025 are only allowed to participate in this event.
Any player who finished 1st or 2nd in the rating restricted FIDE rated event in the last one year (08.04.2024 to 07.04.2025) are not eligible to participate.
Any UNRATED Player or INDIAN Player without a FIDE ID can also take part in CATEGORY – B and CATEGORY – C Tournament.
AICF and KSCA registration mandatory for the year 2025–26.
ENTRY FEE
| CRITERIA | 1st EARLY BIRD (Till 15th FEB 2025) | 2nd EARLY BIRD (Till 28th FEB 2025) | ENTRY FEE (After 28th FEB 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka Players | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,500 |
| All Other Players | ₹5,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,500 |
Note: Those Players who are registered with Bengaluru in KSCA on or before 31.03.2025 will be considered as Bengaluru Players.
Free dormitory accommodation will be available for 100 PLAYERS ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
Discounts:
- 50% off for North-east Players
- 50% off for Specially abled Players
- 50% off for Players aged 60 and above
Conditions apply for early bird offers!
Early bird offers not applicable for players availing 50% Discount.
Last date of entry: 05th April 2025
Entries with late fee of ₹500 up to 09th April 2025.
FOR PLAYERS 1800 & BELOW
ARRIVAL: 14th April 2025 at 1200 Hrs.
ROUNDS: 15th April 2025 to 18th April 2025
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 15.04.2025 | 09.00 Hrs | Players Meeting |
| 15.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 1 |
| 15.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 2 |
| 15.04.2025 | 17.30 Hrs | Round 3 |
| 16.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 4 |
| 16.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 5 |
| 16.04.2025 | 17.30 Hrs | Round 6 |
| 17.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 7 |
| 17.04.2025 | 13.30 Hrs | Round 8 |
| 17.04.2025 | 17.30 Hrs | Round 9 |
| 18.04.2025 | 09.30 Hrs | Round 10 |
| 18.04.2025 | 15.00 Hrs | Prize Distribution |
Total Cash Prize Fund: ₹ 15,00,000/-
MAIN PRIZES
- ₹1,00,000 + Trophy
- ₹80,000 + Trophy
- ₹70,000 + Trophy
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 4 | ₹60,000 |
| 5 | ₹55,000 |
| 6 | ₹40,000 |
| 7 | ₹35,000 |
| 8 | ₹30,000 |
| 9 | ₹25,000 |
| 10 | ₹20,000 |
| 11 To 20 | ₹17,500 |
| 21 To 30 | ₹15,000 |
| 31 To 40 | ₹12,000 |
Additional Prizes:
- Best Unrated: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹12,000 | 4th ₹10,000 | 5th & 6th ₹8,000 Each | 7th-10th ₹7,000 Each
- Best Below Elo 1500: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹12,000 | 4th ₹10,000 | 5th & 6th ₹8,000 Each | 7th-10th ₹7,000 Each
- Best Female: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹10,000 | 4th ₹7,000 | 5th ₹7,000
- Best Karnataka Players: 1st ₹20,000 | 2nd ₹15,000 | 3rd ₹10,000 | 4th ₹7,000 | 5th ₹7,000
Note: Indian Income Tax Act and Rules will be applicable. One player will be given one (higher) prize only.
ELIGIBILITY
Players having the FIDE rating of 1800 & below as on 01.04.2025 are only allowed to participate in this event.
Any player who finished 1st or 2nd in the rating restricted FIDE rated event in the last one year (10.04.2024 to 09.04.2025) are not eligible to participate.
Any UNRATED Player or INDIAN Player without a FIDE ID can also take part in CATEGORY – B and CATEGORY – C Tournament.
AICF and KSCA registration mandatory for the year 2025–26.
ENTRY FEE
| CRITERIA | 1st EARLY BIRD (Till 15th FEB 2025) | 2nd EARLY BIRD (Till 28th FEB 2025) | ENTRY FEE (After 28th FEB 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka Players | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,500 |
| All Other Players | ₹5,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,500 |
Discounts:
- 50% off for North-east Players
- 50% off for Specially abled Players
- 50% off for Players aged 60 and above
Conditions apply for early bird offers!
Early bird offers not applicable for players availing 50% Discount.
Last date of entry: 05th April 2025
Entries with late fee of ₹500 up to 13th April 2025.
REGISTRATION
Please use the link below or scan the QR Code for Registration:
https://circlechess.com/registration?id=21815
TOURNAMENT RULES
System of Play:
The tournament will be conducted as per FIDE Laws of Chess and FIDE Swiss System with 10 rounds.
Time Control:
60 Minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 for the entire game.
Tie Break:
In case of a tie, the latest FIDE Rules shall come into effect. The Cash prizes will not be shared.
Accommodation:
Lodging can be booked for participants on single/double/triple sharing basis. For details and tariff, kindly contact the accommodation in-charge.
WEATHER
The minimum / maximum temperature will be around 35–38 Degree Celsius during the day and 25–30 Degree Celsius at night.
FOR ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT:
FOREIGN GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs AND FOREIGN PLAYERS
Mr. Gopakumar M S (International Arbiter)
Email: indianchessevents@gmail.com
CC to: bengalurugrandmaster@gmail.com
INDIAN GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs
Mr. Arvinda Shastry – +91 96118 32665
Grandmaster Thejkumar – +91 95353 11116
Email: bengalurugmqueries@gmail.com
Chief Arbiter: Mr. Gopakumar M S
INDIAN PLAYERS
Registration / General queries / Accreditation
Mrs. Jayanthi Hanumantha – +91 78296 00466 (Vice President, BUDCA)
For Language Support:
- Ms. Bhargavi Bharath (Kannada, English, Hindi) – +91 88613 50764
- Ms. Nalini Kamara (Kannada, English, Tamil) – +91 98450 55928
- Ms. Sujatha Arjun (Tamil, English, Kannada) – +91 99455 67914
- Ms. Madhurya Muralidhar (Telugu, English) – +91 98455 12892 (Timings: 9.00 am – 1 pm)
- Mr. Gautham M U (Kannada, English, Hindi) – +91 96115 24662
- Ms. Supriya Kulkarni (English, Hindi, Marathi) – +91 97316 00486
- Mr. Tarun (Circle Chess Queries) – +91 96200 06600
TRANSPORTATION
Mr. Raghavendra Shastry (Shastry Tours & Travels) – +91 98867 26413, +91 98866 26419
ACCOMMODATION ENQUIRIES
Mr. Varun & Team – +91 88847 48410
AWARDS & FELICITATION COMMITTEE
Ms. Shubharani Hebbar (Secretary, BUOCA) – Chairman
Ms. Vidya Gururaj (Treasurer, BUOCA)
CULTURAL & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Ms. Ashwini Rao (Senior Advocate) – Chairman
TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
Mr. Vasanth B H (IA) – Chairman – +91 94486 22388
Mr. Kumar Gaurav (Technology Officer) – +91 99006 14285
Ms. Latha Anand (Parent and Player Relations) – +91 94804 23906
ADVISORY BOARD
- Mrs. Ratna Prabha (IAS Former Chief Sec GoK – Chairman Advisory Board)
- Mr. Vilas V Shinde IRS (Commissioner of Income Tax, Bangalore)
- Dr. Girisha LP (Senior Ast. Director)
- Mr. Nataraj M N (Former Regional Director, NYKS)
- Mr. M Raju (Income Tax Officer)
- Mr. Dilip Kumar I S (Advocate) – Legal Advisor for all the legal queries
FOR EMERGENCY CONTACT:
Mr. Arvinda Shastry – +91 96118 32665
Mr. Thej Kumar – +91 95353 11116 (Gen Sec KSCA)
FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIVE QUERIES:
Ms. Sowmya M U – +91 94818 60073
BANGALORE INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTERS CHESS TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE
Hon. President: Shri D K Shivakumar (Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, Govt Of Karnataka)
Vice President, AICF: Shri Dr. D P Anantha
Tournament Strategy, Co-ordination & Hospitality: Mr. Aravinda Shastry
Outreach & Promotions: Grandmaster Mr. Thej Kumar
Administration, Planning, & Operations: Ms. Sowmya M U
IA and Tournament Execution & Networking: Mr. Saleem Beig
ORGANIZING SECRETARY:
Ms. Sowmya M U – +91 94818 60073
BEST WISHES FROM TEAM KSCA
Chief Patron: Dr. Ajay Dharam Singh
Patron: Dr. D P Anantha, Mr. Aravinda Shastry, Mr. Manjunath Jain
President, KSCA: Mr. Madhukar T N
General Secretary, KSCA: Mr. Thejkumar
Treasurer, KSCA: Mr. Vasanth B H
Vice Presidents, KSCA: Mr. Raju M, Mrs. Sowmya M U, Mr. Shripad K V, Mr. M. Girish, Mr. Ramesh Kate, Mr. Murthy S
Joint Secretaries, KSCA: Mr. J Suresh, Mr. Naveen Hegde, Mr. Suresh Babu, Mr. Sachin P S, Mr. Chethan Ram H R, Mr. S Siddaiah
SENIOR MEMBERS OF KSCA:
Mr. Vinay Kurtkoti, Mr. Raghavendra V, Mr. Nagendra Muralidhar, Dr. Muralidhar
REGISTRATION FEE DETAILS SUMMARY
Free for GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs
50% off for North-east Players, Specially abled Players, Players aged 60 and above
CATEGORIES B & C
| Dates – Descriptions | For BLR/KAR | For Others |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Early Bird (Till 15th FEB 2025) | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 |
| 2nd Early Bird (Till 28th FEB 2025) | ₹5,000 | ₹6,000 |
| 01st March 2025 to 05th April 2025 | ₹5,500 | ₹6,500 |
| With Late Fee (Till 13th April 2025) | ₹6,000 | ₹7,000 |
| North Eastern Players | ₹3,250 | |
| Senior Citizen Players | ₹2,750 | ₹3,250 |
| Specially Abled Players | ₹2,750 | ₹3,250 |
*Late fee of ₹500 applicable to all after respective deadlines.
CATEGORY A
| Dates – Descriptions | 2400 & Above | 2300-2399 | 2000-2299 | 1900-1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Early Bird (Till 15th FEB 2025) | ₹5,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹9,000 |
| 2nd Early Bird (Till 28th FEB 2025) | ₹5,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹9,000 |
| 01st March 2025 to 05th April 2025 | ₹6,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
| With Late Fee (Till 09th April 2025) | ₹6,500 | ₹8,500 | ₹9,500 | ₹10,500 |
RULES/REGULATIONS/INFORMATION
- System of Play: The tournament will be conducted as per FIDE laws of chess and FIDE Swiss System with 10 rounds in all the 3 categories. The latest FIDE rules in force shall apply.
- Registration:
- For Indian Players, AICF registration for the year 2025–2026 is compulsory. To renew: https://prs.aicf.in/players. To register: https://prs.aicf.in/new-register/.
- For Karnataka players, KSCA registration for the year 2025–2026 is compulsory. To register: https://karnatakachess.com/player-registration/.
- For foreign players, a valid FIDE ID is mandatory.
- Appeals Committee: Will be formed before the start of the tournament comprising of 5 members. The committee’s decision will be final and binding.
- Tie-break: In case of a tie, latest FIDE rules shall apply as per AICF guidelines. Cash prizes will not be shared. One player is eligible for one higher prize only.
- Protest: Must be made in writing with a protest fee of ₹1,000 within 15 minutes after completion of the game. The fee will be refunded if the protest is upheld.
- Withdrawals: Players may withdraw after informing the chief arbiter in writing.
- Fair Play: FIDE Fair Play Regulations will be enforced. Mobile phones, wristwatches, and electronic devices are prohibited in the playing area.
- Taxation: Prize money for foreign players will be taxed as per Govt. guidelines. Indian Income Tax Act and Rules will apply.
- Payment: Prize money will be transferred via online mode in INR only.
- No Waiver/Refunds: No requests for waiver of entry fee or late fee will be entertained.
- Media Consent: Participation implies consent for photos/videos to be used for publishing and promotions.
- Certificates: Will be awarded to all participants.
ENTRY REGISTRATION
BANK DETAILS FOR ENTRY FEE TRANSFER
Account Name: BANGALORE INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTERS TC
Account Number: 50200103891226
Account Branch: CHANDRA LAYOUT
IFSC Code: HDFC0001757
Gpay Number: 9448460072
UPI ID: bengaluruprandmaster1@okhdfcbank
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