Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta. File
| Picture Credit score: B. Velankanni Raj
Famend Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta has been left annoyed in his makes an attempt to safe the prize cash for the Odisha Open title he gained earlier this 12 months, with repeated assurances from the organisers yielding no consequence.
Regardless of writing a number of letters to the All India Chess Federation, the Chess Olympiad medallist is but to obtain the fee, forcing him to hunt intervention from the Sports activities Ministry. Sources mentioned the Odisha affiliation is embroiled in infighting, with its checking account frozen, leaving the organisers unable to clear the dues.
“I kindly request the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities to look into this matter and assist be certain that gamers obtain their rightful prize cash with transparency and accountability,” wrote the 36-year-old Mr. Gupta, the primary participant to win the Commonwealth Chess Championship 5 instances, on ‘X’.
“This isn’t nearly one unpaid prize. It’s about defending the dignity and belief of each chess participant in India.” Mr. Gupta additionally instructed PTI that the organisers owe him ₹5.5 lakh in prize cash for the match he gained in January.
“I gained the Odisha Open in January 2026. The organisers assured me that the prize cash can be paid inside a month. Nonetheless, once I adopted up later, they stopped responding,” he mentioned.
“As a sportsperson, you be taught to simply accept losses extra typically than victories — that’s a part of the journey. However what hurts much more is profitable and nonetheless not receiving what you rightfully earned.” A supply within the AICF mentioned the organisers of the Odisha Open had been unable to pay Mr. Gupta as a result of their checking account had been frozen amid infighting inside the State affiliation.
“There may be infighting inside the affiliation, with rival factions locked in a dispute, due to which the account has been frozen and gamers aren’t getting their dues,” the supply mentioned. Mr. Gupta additionally wrote that he had tried reaching out to the AICF however acquired no response.
“Because the match was affiliated with the All India Chess Federation, I additionally reached out to the federation’s president and secretary, hoping the matter can be resolved pretty. Sadly, there was no response from them both.
“If this could occur to somebody honoured with the Arjuna Award, one can solely think about the struggles confronted by gamers on the grassroots stage of chess in India,” added Mr. Gupta.
A senior AICF official, nonetheless, mentioned on situation of anonymity that the federation had “reached out” to Mr. Gupta.
“I’m 100% sure that the problem might be resolved quickly. The thought is to work for the gamers. Allow us to perceive the problem [with Odisha association] after which we’ll resolve it,” the official added.
Mr. Gupta mentioned he was pressured to boost the problem on social media as almost 4 months had handed since he gained the title, however all he had acquired had been repeated assurances.
“The infighting within the [Odisha association] has been happening for years. They carried out the match, and it was affiliated with the AICF. So there must be some accountability on the a part of the nationwide federation.
“I completely perceive that [their account might have been frozen], however as a participant, what ought to I do? They need to not have held the match within the first place. As a sportsperson, you win only a few tournaments and also you lose extra. That is what I really feel generally,” added Mr. Gupta.
Revealed – Might 09, 2026 03:10 pm IST
