Coimbatore is all set to witness the return of an International Grandmaster (GM) Open Chess Tournament after nearly four decades. The official launch and press conference for the International Grandmaster Open Chess Tournament 2027 were held at Hotel M Inn on Mettupalayam Road on Sunday.

The prestigious tournament is being jointly organised by Miracle School of Chess and the Coimbatore District Chess Association (CDCA), with Akshaya College of Engineering as the title sponsor. The event will be held from January 11 to 18, 2027.

This marks the first International Grandmaster tournament in Coimbatore since the Shakthi Sugars International Grandmaster Tournament held in 1987, making it a landmark event in the city’s sporting history.

The championship will feature four categories—A, B, C (Blitz), and D—with a total prize pool of ₹45 lakh. In addition to the cash prizes, winners will receive two brand-new cars, six motorcycles, and 100 chess clocks as special awards.

Category A matches will be played at Hotel M Inn, Saibaba Colony, while Categories B, C, and D will be hosted at the Akshaya College of Engineering campus in Kinathukadavu.Organisers expect participation from more than 25 countries, including 40 to 45 Grandmasters and International Masters, along with nearly 2,000 players from across the globe.

Speaking at the event, the organisers said the tournament would provide a valuable opportunity for young Indian players to achieve Grandmaster (GM) and International Master (IM) norms while further strengthening Tamil Nadu’s reputation as one of India’s leading chess hubs.

Chief Guest Lalgudi MLA Leema Rose Martin described the return of an International Grandmaster tournament to Coimbatore after four decades as a historic milestone. She said chess plays a vital role in developing analytical thinking, discipline, and decision-making skills among students and noted that the tournament would offer young talents from Tamil Nadu an ideal platform to showcase their abilities on the international stage. She also congratulated the organisers for bringing the prestigious event back to Coimbatore.

The organisers added that the collaborative effort of Akshaya College of Engineering, Hotel M Inn, Miracle School of Chess, and the Coimbatore District Chess Association would provide world-class competitive exposure to aspiring players from Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu, helping nurture the next generation of Grandmasters and opening a new chapter in the state’s chess development.