Newz Desk, Durgapur: The city is preparing to host one of India’s most prestigious chess events as the 51st National Women’s Chess Championship 2025 is set to take place at the iconic Sidhu Kanhu Stadium from December 3 to 13. The event is being organised by Sara Bangla Daba Sangstha, the apex chess body of West Bengal affiliated to the All India Chess Federation (AICF), in collaboration with Paschim Bardhaman Daba Sangstha and the All Sport Foundation.
Officials described the championship as a moment of pride for Durgapur, known both as an industrial powerhouse and a growing sporting hub of West Bengal. The tournament will bring together the country’s finest women chess players, turning the city into a national centre of strategic and intellectual sporting excellence for eleven days. The games will be held daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the opening ceremony scheduled on December 3 at 12 noon, and the prize distribution ceremony on December 13 at 4 p.m.
The steel city is gearing up to host yet another major sporting event as the 51st National Women’s Chess Championship 2025 is set to begin on December 3. The prestigious national-level tournament will run till December 13 at the Sidhu Kanho Stadium, where the inaugural ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday at 12 noon.
Chess enthusiasts across the country are eagerly looking forward to the event, which will witness intense competition among 147 players representing 24 states. Among the participants are seven Women Grandmasters (WGMs), adding star power and competitive depth to the championship. In total, 14 titled players will be competing for top honours.
With a total prize purse of ₹30 lakh, the championship is expected to witness tough battles on the boards as top-rated players vie for national glory and ranking points.
Ahead of the championship, a press conference was held in Durgapur, attended by prominent personalities from the chess fraternity. Present at the briefing were Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, President of the Bengal Chess Association; Grandmaster Mary Ann Gomes; and Subrata Chatterjee, Secretary of the West Burdwan Chess Association, among others. They expressed optimism about the successful conduct of the tournament and highlighted the growing popularity of chess among women in India.
