New Delhi: Asian Games team event bronze medallist Grandmaster G N Gopal of Petroleum Sports Promotion Board has been handed the top billing in a strong field which included young talent Parimarjan Negi in the 48th National Premier Chess Championship.
Around 50 players, including 12 Grandmasters and 19 International Masters, will be seen in action in the two-week long tournament, formerly known as National A Chess Championship.
Grandmaster B Adhiban, former national champion Abhijit Kunte and former World Junior Champion Women Grandmaster Soumya Swaminathan are the other top players taking part in the event to be held at K R Mangalam World School, Greater Kailash-II.
The Championship will be conducted under Swiss System with 13 rounds with a prize fund of four lakh rupees out of which one lakh is reserved for the winner.
The winner will be assured of a place in the next World Cup as World Chess Federation awarded separate zone status to India in the just concluded FIDE Congress, a release from Delhi Chess Association said.
