Arjuna AwardeeGrandmaster Abhijeet GuptaOdisha GM OpenAll India Chess FederationUnpaid Prize Money
Arjuna Awardee Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta Claims Unpaid Prize Money
Published: May 9, 2026
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Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, who won the Odisha GM Open in January 2026, claims he has not received his prize money of Rs 1 lakh despite initial assurances from the organizers that it would be transferred within a couple of weeks. The tournament, which had a total prize pool of Rs 45 lakh, was officially affiliated with the All India Chess Federation (AICF).
Gupta expressed his frustration over the lack of accountability from both the tournament organizers and the AICF, stating that he was initially told his winnings would be transferred within a couple of weeks, but weeks turned into months and communication from the organizers went silent.
The Grandmaster, who received the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2013, subsequently reached out to the AICF, noting that the tournament was under their affiliation and therefore, they should be held accountable.
Gupta has called upon the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to intervene, demanding transparency and the protection of the dignity and trust of every chess player in India.
The AICF has not responded to Gupta's emails since March, and the Grandmaster remains cautious about his next steps, stating that he will wait to see how the situation pans out. The case is likely to be taken up by the sports ministry, which may investigate the matter and take necessary actions against the tournament organizers and the AICF.