Kolkata/Jamshedpur: The 4th edition of Tata Steel Chess India (TSCI) was announced on August 10, 2022 with the introduction of a Women’s Edition of the tournament. The open tournament has been on for three editions now and in its fourth edition, TSCI will have a women’s tournament with the same format – rapid and blitz. The tournament will take place from November 29 – December 4, 2022 in Kolkata.
Top International Grandmasters, top Indian men and women Grandmasters, young Indian talents and Viswanathan Anand as the ambassador and advisor of the tournament will enrich this year’s competition. For the first time in the history of the game, the prize fund for both the men’s and women’s category will be equal.
Women Grandmasters who have already confirmed their participation are Anna and Mariya Muzychuk from Ukraine, Nana Dzagnidze from Georgia and Alina Kashlinskaya from Poland. Indian chess superstars Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli will be joined by rising star Vaishali R – all of who were a part of the Bronze-winning team at the recently concluded Chess Olympiad in Chennai.
Viswanathan Anand, Ambassador of Tata Steel Chess India, on the occasion said: “I am extremely delighted that today chess is considered as a mainstream sport. Tournaments like Tata Steel Chess India where our young players fight it out with International Grandmasters really helps the cause of producing newer champions. Today, India is considered as chess power-house with both men and women excelling in the sport. The introduction of the women’s tournament with equal prize money as the men category is a welcome move and an excellent initiative and we hope it is as well-received by the chess enthusiasts. Chess is and should be an equal sport.”
Speaking on the occasion, Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, said: “We are delighted to announce that this year’s edition of Tata Steel Chess India will witness the launch of a Women’s Tournament as well. What better year to start this than FIDE’s ‘Year Of The Woman In Chess.’ The event will give young Indian talent the opportunity to play against top International Grandmasters. Tata Steel Chess India is part of Tata Steel’s continuous and conscious effort to build an equitable and diverse environment while engaging with communities through meaningful activities. We are encouraged by the enthusiasm and participation we have received over the past years and are determined to make this world class chess competition even better.”
Bharat Singh Chauhan, Hon. Secretary, AICF, said: “We as a national body for promoting chess is extremely happy to witness resurgence and renewed interest towards this sport from the people of the country. The recently concluded Chess Olympiad is an example of the growing importance of chess in India. Over the past few years, Tata Steel Chess India is helping to popularize the sport and take the game to every corner of the country. And this year, the addition of the Women’s tournament is a welcome development.“
About Tata Steel Chess India
World class chess came to Kolkata in the form of the first inaugural Tata Steel Chess India tournament in November 2018. The tournament witnessed participation of the world’s top grandmasters, including Viswanathan Anand, in the Rapid and Blitz formats. In 2019, World Champion Magnus Carlsen won both Rapid and Blitz in his usual magnificent fashion, while the other super GMs wowed chess enthusiasts with their precision power play. Tata Steel has a long-standing association with chess and cherishes the global standing Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk Ann Zee has acquired over the years. In its previous editions, Tata Steel Chess India has already become a sought-after tournament in professional chess and the endeavour is to make this even bigger and better in the years to come.
