Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta has approached the Sports Ministry seeking intervention over alleged non-payment of prize money from the organisers of the Odisha Open 2026. Gupta says he was assured the winnings would be released within a month of his victory in January this year, but claims the organisers stopped responding once he began following up.
Despite multiple communications with the All India Chess Federation, the Chess Olympiad medallist says he is still awaiting payment, prompting him to escalate the matter to the Sports Ministry.
According to news agency PTI, the Odisha chess association is currently affected by internal disputes, with its bank account frozen, which has left organisers unable to clear pending dues.
“I kindly request
the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to look into this matter and help ensure that players receive their rightful prize money with transparency and accountability,” wrote the 36-year-old Gupta, the first player to win the Commonwealth Chess Championship five times, on ‘X’.
As a sportsperson, you learn to accept losses more often than victories — that is part of the journey. But what hurts even more is winning and still not receiving what you rightfully earned.
I won the Odisha Open in January 2026. The organizers assured me that the prize money…
— Abhijeet Gupta (@iam_abhijeet) May 9, 2026
“This is not just about one unpaid prize. It is about protecting the dignity and trust of every chess player in India.”
Gupta claims he is owed ₹5.5 lakh in prize money for the tournament he won in January.
“I won the Odisha Open in January 2026. The organisers assured me that the prize money would be paid within a month. However, when I followed up later, they stopped responding,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.
“As a sportsperson, you learn to accept losses more often than victories — that is part of the journey. But what hurts even more is winning and still not receiving what you rightfully earned.”
However, he later posted on social media that AICF president Nitin Narang had assured him that the issue would be resolved.
“The President of All India Chess Federation @narangnitin ji called me and assured me that the necessary action has been initiated!” wrote Gupta.
The President of All India Chess Federation @narangnitin ji called me and assured me that the necessary action has been initiated! https://t.co/E9OIWiaTjJ
— Abhijeet Gupta (@iam_abhijeet) May 9, 2026
A source within the All India Chess Federation (AICF) told PTI that the organisers were unable to release payments due to the frozen account amid factional disputes within the state association.
“There is infighting within the association, with rival factions locked in a dispute, because of which the account has been frozen and players are not getting their dues,” the source said.
Gupta also said he had reached out to the AICF but did not receive a response.
“Since the tournament was affiliated with the All India Chess Federation, I also reached out to the federation’s president and secretary, hoping the matter would be resolved fairly. Unfortunately, there has been no response from them either.
“If this can happen to someone honoured with the Arjuna Award, one can only imagine the struggles faced by players at the grassroots level of chess in India,” he added.
A senior AICF official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the federation had contacted Gupta.
“I am 100 per cent certain that the issue will be resolved soon. The idea is to work for the players. Let us understand the issue (with Odisha association) and then we will resolve it,” the official said.
Gupta, however, said he was compelled to raise the matter publicly after nearly four months of waiting and repeated assurances.
“The infighting in the (Odisha association) has been going on for years. They conducted the tournament and it was affiliated by the AICF. So there has to be some responsibility on the part of the national federation.
“I totally understand that (their account might have been frozen), but as a player what should I do They should not have held the tournament in the first place. As a sportsperson, you win very less tournaments and you lose more… that’s what I feel in general,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
