Chennai, May 26, 2025: The Chennai Grand Masters, India’s premier classical super chess tournament, has secured Singapore-based fintech firm Quantbox Research as its title sponsor. This multi-year partnership aims to elevate the tournament’s stature. The upcoming third edition, scheduled from August 6 to 15, 2025, is set to feature its largest-ever prize pool of INR 1 Crore and an expanded 20-player field across the Masters and Challengers categories.
Organised by MGD1 and supported by the Tamil Nadu Government and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, the tournament will be rebranded as the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters. Running since 2023, it has held two editions. Gukesh Dommaraju won the 2023 edition, gaining vital points to qualify for the Candidates, which he went on to win en route to securing the Chess World Championship title.
Manu Gurtu, Co-founder, MGD1, India’s only Chess Management Agency and Organiser of the Chennai Grand Masters, welcomed Quantbox ahead of the third edition: “We are delighted to join hands with Quantbox Research, whose commitment to the Chennai Grand Masters as title sponsor marks a major milestone for the tournament. Together, we’ve been able to expand the event, increase the prize pool, and will continue providing a world-class platform for top talent. This partnership reflects our combined long-term vision for chess, and we’re excited to see the impact it will have on the sport.”
Quantbox’s commitment to chess was evident when the company sponsored Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi in a 5 year landmark deal. As a firm built on AI and machine learning, Quantbox thrives on strategy and precision, values that also define chess. With Founder and Managing Director Prashant Singh, a former chess player, at the helm, the firm’s backing helps support the game’s growing ecosystem.
Delighted by the partnership, Singh said: “We at Quantbox share a philosophy with chess, staying ahead through strategy, precision, and technology. Our commitment to Arjun Erigaisi has reinforced this belief, and supporting his journey has been deeply rewarding. Now, as we are here to back the Chennai Grand Masters, we aim to take our involvement to the next level, fostering excellence and pushing the sport forward. We look forward to an outstanding tournament.”
The Chennai Grand Masters has witnessed tangible growth across both its previous iterations, which is set to accelerate further with the support of Quantbox. With Quantbox’s backing, enabling a prize pool increase and an expanded lineup featuring 10 players per category, the tournament is set to witness intense competition between top Indian and international grandmasters for a third year in a row.
Speaking about the government’s initial and continued support, Srinath Narayanan, VP of Chess, MGD1, said: “The Tamil Nadu Government’s continued support for the Chennai Grand Masters since the first day has been invaluable. Their commitment has helped create an elite platform that nurtures both top-tier and emerging talent and provides fans with edge-of-their-seat contests. With Quantbox Research coming on board as title sponsor, the tournament will grow even further, strengthening India’s presence in the international chess arena.”
The second edition of the Chennai Grand Masters, held in 2024, broke new ground, with the Masters boasting an average rating of 2729 and the Challengers featuring female competitors for the first time. Aravindh Chithambaram took the Master’s crown ahead of the likes of Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujrathi. Pranav V, meanwhile, won the Challengers category, earning a spot in this year’s Masters
