Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta Receives Assurance on Prize Money Delay

Abhijeet Gupta's Prize Money Concerns Addressed

Abhijeet Gupta, a prominent Indian Grandmaster, expressed his frustration over the delayed prize money from his victory at the Odisha Open earlier this year. Fortunately, he has now received commitments from the All India Chess Federation (AICF) that they are taking steps to resolve the issue and ensure he receives his dues.

Gupta, who has earned accolades as a Chess Olympiad medallist and a five-time Commonwealth champion, found himself in a difficult situation after months of unanswered correspondence with the AICF regarding his payment, prompting him to seek help from the Sports Ministry.

Reports indicate that the Odisha association, responsible for organizing the tournament, is currently facing internal conflicts, resulting in a frozen bank account that has hindered their ability to disburse payments.

In a heartfelt message on 'X', Gupta appealed to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to intervene, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that players receive their deserved prize money with transparency and accountability. He stated, "This is not just about one unpaid prize. It is about protecting the dignity and trust of every chess player in India." Gupta revealed that he is owed Rs 5.5 lakh for his win in January.

Later, he shared on social media that AICF president Nitin Narang had assured him that the necessary actions were being taken to resolve the matter.

"The President of All India Chess Federation @narangnitin ji called me and assured me that the necessary action has been initiated!" Gupta tweeted.

Previously, Gupta had been told that the prize money would be settled within a month, but the payment never came through. "When I followed up, they (the organizers) stopped responding," he lamented.

Gupta reiterated, "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." An AICF source explained that the organizers were unable to pay Gupta due to their frozen bank account amid ongoing disputes within the association.

"There is infighting within the association, with rival factions locked in a dispute, which has led to the account being frozen and players not receiving their dues," the source stated.

Gupta mentioned that he had attempted to contact the AICF but received no replies. "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," Gupta added.

A senior AICF official, speaking anonymously, stated that the federation had indeed reached out to Gupta. "I am 100 percent certain that the issue will be resolved soon. The idea is to work for the players. Let us understand the issue (with the Odisha association) and then we will resolve it," the official remarked.

Gupta emphasized that part of the responsibility for ensuring the payment of the prize money lies with the AICF, as the state association is affiliated with the national body. "The infighting in the Odisha association has been ongoing for years. They conducted the tournament, and it was affiliated by the AICF. Therefore, 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 few tournaments and lose more... that's what I feel in general," Gupta concluded.