Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Jan 4: World Champion D Gukesh has withdrawn from the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz tournament, scheduled to be held in Kolkata from January 7 to 11, dealing a major setback to organisers and chess fans alike. The organisers said the withdrawal was due to personal reasons, though there has been no direct communication from Gukesh or his team explaining the decision.

“Due to personal reasons, D Gukesh will be unable to participate in Tata Steel Chess India this year,” the organisers announced on social media on Friday. Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has been named as his replacement for the Rapid and Blitz event.

Dibyendu Barua, India’s second Grandmaster and Tournament Director of Tata Steel Chess India, described Gukesh’s absence as a significant loss. Speaking from Kolkata, he said chess lovers in the city were eagerly waiting to watch the world champion play there for the first time.

“Gukesh was one of the main attractions. Many young players were excited to see him play, especially with another event, the Tata Chess Festival, being held alongside. A lot of participants were looking forward to seeing Gukesh, Viswanathan Anand and Arjun Erigaisi together,” Barua said, adding that Kolkata’s strong sporting culture makes such events special.

Barua also praised Nihal Sarin for accepting the invitation at the last moment. “You cannot compare players, but Nihal is extremely talented and particularly strong in Rapid and Blitz. It is commendable that he accepted the invitation at such short notice,” he said.

Gukesh last competed at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Doha, where he finished 20th in the Rapid event and 53rd in Blitz. The Tata Steel Chess India tournament will now be headlined by India No. 1 Arjun Erigaisi, who recently won double bronze at the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Championship.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand will also return to competitive action in the 2026 edition, along with Candidates 2026 qualifier and 2023 World Cup finalist R Praggnanandhaa. Vidit Gujrathi and Aravindh Chithambaram complete the Indian contingent in the Open section.

Among overseas players, China’s Wei Yi, Russian teenager and 2024 World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin, American Grandmasters Hans Niemann and Wesley So will feature.

The Women’s event will see strong Indian representation from Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Harika Dronavalli, Vantika Agrawal and Rakshitta Ravi. The international field will be led by defending champion Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia, along with Kateryna Lagno, Nana Dzagnidze, Carissa Yip and Stavroula Tsolakidou.

First held in 2018, Tata Steel Chess India is regarded as the sister tournament to the prestigious Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, and remains one of the few chess events in the world to offer equal prize money for men and women.