KOLKATA: The 2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz will become the first GCT (Grand Chess Tour) event ever to be held in Asia when the event commences in the City of Joy on November 22.
GCT is a circuit of chess tournaments where players compete for multiple prize pools. Major GCT tournaments include Norway Chess, the Sinquefield Cup, and the London Chess Classic.
The tournament is sponsored by Tata Steel India and organised by Gameplan Sports Pvt. Ltd and was an instant hit when it was run as an independent event in 2018.
GM Hikaru Nakamura won the rapid segment while the home town favourite GM Viswanathan Anand recorded a memorable victory in the blitz.
Both players will be back in 2019 but with a significantly stronger field including no less than World Champion Magnus Carlsen.
DATES
November 22 – 26
VENUE
National Library of India, Kolkata, India
FORMAT
10 Player Round Robin
PRIZE FUND
$150,000
