The premier women’s chess event in the country, the 44th National Women’s Challengers Chess Tournament,conducted by the Mysore Chess Centre under the aegis of the UKCA & AICF will begin at the Mysore Sports Club tomorrow.

Around 125 players will be seen in action. The nine day tournament comprising of 9 rounds will conclude on July 29. The top women players in the country-WGM Soumya Swaminathan (PSPB-rating 2349), WGM Mary Ann Gomes (PSPB-2331), WIM R. Vaishali (TN-2327), WGM Swati Ghate (LIC-2278), IM Nisha Mohota (PSPB-2271), WGM Bhakti Kulkarni (AI-2255), WIM Bodda Pratyusha (AP-2236), WIM P.V. Nandhidhaa (AAI-2221), WFM Rucha Pujari (Mah-2191) will be seen action.

Players from institutions and States like PSPB, LIC, Air India, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Telangana, Harayana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and hosts Karnataka will be seen in action.

Players from Karnataka, K. Manasa, Adria D’souza, H.R. Manasa, B.N. Gangamma, M. Tulsi, Prasiddhi Bhat, B.R. Garima Rao, Aishani Anand, C. Ananya, C. Anusuya, C.S. Chandana, Sharadhi Shastry, B. Vaishanavi & Vindya Sridhar also will be seen in action.

The first place carries a prize money of Rs. 72,000 followed by Rs. 52,800, Rs. 38,400, Rs. 28,800, Rs. 21,600, Rs. 16,800, Rs. 12,000, Rs. 9,600, Rs. 7,200, Rs. 4,800 for the places between second and tenth respectively. The first round of the tournament will begin at 2 pm tomorrow.