Abhijeet Gupta Moves Sports Ministry Alleging Unpaid Odisha Open Tournament Dues

Renowned Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta has approached the Sports Ministry after allegedly failing to receive prize money for winning the Odisha Open chess tournament earlier this year. The Arjuna Award-winning chess player said repeated attempts to resolve the issue with tournament organisers and the All India Chess Federation (AICF) had yielded no results, leaving him frustrated and compelled to seek official intervention.

According to Gupta, organisers owe him ₹5.5 lakh for winning the Odisha Open held in January 2026. He stated that he was initially assured the payment would be processed within a month, but communication reportedly stopped after he repeatedly followed up regarding the dues. The Grandmaster publicly raised the issue through social media, calling for greater transparency and accountability in Indian chess administration.

In his message addressed to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Gupta said the matter went beyond a single unpaid prize and reflected broader concerns about the treatment of players in the sport. He argued that if a decorated player such as himself could face such difficulties, grassroots-level chess players were likely dealing with even more serious challenges regarding financial security and institutional support.

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Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the Odisha chess association is currently facing internal disputes between rival factions, which has allegedly resulted in its bank account being frozen. The development has reportedly prevented organisers from clearing prize money payments to participating players, including Gupta.

The Grandmaster also claimed that he had written multiple letters to the All India Chess Federation, including communications addressed to senior office-bearers, but did not initially receive a response. However, a senior federation official later stated anonymously that the AICF had reached out to Gupta and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved soon.

Abhijeet Gupta is one of India’s most accomplished chess players and the first player to win the Commonwealth Chess Championship five times. The controversy has once again highlighted concerns over governance, administrative disputes, and timely payments in Indian sporting events, particularly at the domestic level.

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