Kolkata: Two of modern chess’ biggest stars — Viswanathan Anand of Indian and Magnus Carlsen of Norway — will battle it out in rapid and blitz chess in the second edition of the Tata Steel India Chess Championships in November this year.
The Tata Steel Chess India, the country’s strongest rapid and blitz tournament, is part of the expanded Grand Chess Tour (GCT), a series of classical and rapid events with a total prize fund of $1.75 million. The GCT, which was started in 2015 with total five events, including the finals in London, has been expanded to eight events from this year and will be held between May 6 and December 10. The field of 12 players will play in two compulsory classical events and three of the five rapid and blitz events, which will have a field of 10 players each, including a couple of local wild card entrants.
The classical events will be held at Zagreb, Croatia (June 24-July 9) and St Louis, USA (Aug 15-30), while the rapid and blitz events will be held at Ivory Coast (May 6-11), Paris (July 26-Aug 2), St Louis (Aug 8-15), Bucharest, Romania (Nov 4-11) and Kolkata (Nov 20-27).
Two of modern chess’ biggest stars — Viswanathan Anand of Indian and Magnus Carlsen of Norway — will battle it out in rapid and blitz chess in the second edition of the Tata Steel India Chess Championships in November this year.
The Tata Steel Chess India, the country’s strongest rapid and blitz tournament, is part of the expanded Grand Chess Tour (GCT), a series of classical and rapid events with a total prize fund of $1.75 million. The GCT, which was started in 2015 with total five events, including the finals in London, has been expanded to eight events from this year and will be held between May 6 and December 10. The field of 12 players will play in two compulsory classical events and three of the five rapid and blitz events, which will have a field of 10 players each, including a couple of local wild card entrants.
The classical events will be held at Zagreb, Croatia (June 24-July 9) and St Louis, USA (Aug 15-30), while the rapid and blitz events will be held at Ivory Coast (May 6-11), Paris (July 26-Aug 2), St Louis (Aug 8-15), Bucharest, Romania (Nov 4-11) and Kolkata (Nov 20-27).
Both Anand and Carlsen have included Tata Steel India in their schedule as one of the three rapid and blitz events, the organisers announced on Wednesday
Both Anand and Carlsen have included Tata Steel India in their schedule as one of the three rapid and blitz events, the organisers announced on Wednesday