The Tamil Nadu Chess Association recently organised the launch event and press conference for the International Grandmaster Open Chess Tournament 2027 at Hotel M Inn.

It was announced that Coimbatore will once again host an International Grandmaster (GM) Open Chess Tournament after nearly 40 years. The event 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 tournament will be held from January 11 to 18, 2027.

This will be the first International GM tournament in Coimbatore since the Shakthi Sugars International Grandmaster Tournament held in 1987. The competition will feature four categories: A, B, C (Blitz), and D.

The tournament carries a total cash prize of ₹45 lakh, along with two new cars, six motorcycles, and 100 chess clocks as special prizes. Category A matches will be conducted at Hotel M Inn, Saibaba Colony, Coimbatore, while Categories B, C, and D will be held at the Akshaya College of Engineering campus in Kinathukadavu.

More than 25 countries are expected to participate, with around 40–45 Grandmasters and International Masters, along with nearly 2,000 players from across the world.

The organisers stated that the tournament will provide an excellent opportunity for young Indian players to achieve Grandmaster (GM) and International Master (IM) norms. It will also mark another significant milestone in the growth of chess in Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Guest, Lalgudi MLA Leema Rose Martin described the return of an International Grandmaster Chess Tournament to Coimbatore after four decades as a historic occasion.

She said that chess helps students develop analytical thinking, discipline, and decision-making skills. She added that the tournament would provide young players in Tamil Nadu with an excellent platform to showcase their talent on the international stage.

She also congratulated all the organisations involved in organising the event.

The organisers further stated that the international tournament, jointly hosted by Akshaya College of Engineering, Hotel M Inn, Miracle School of Chess, and the Coimbatore District Chess Association, will provide world-class competitive exposure to young players from Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu. The event is expected to help nurture the next generation of Grandmasters and mark a historic chapter in the state’s chess development.