Harikrishna will star in the Champions Chess Tour Airthings Masters

Wild Card entrants - Dubov and Harikrishna

India no.2 and currently World no. 22 GM Pentala Harikrishna will be seen in action starting tomorrow in the first in the first Major of the Champions Chess Tour - Airthings Masters which will take place online from 26th December to 3rd January 2021. The tournament will have a total Prize fund of US$ 200,000 which is the double of the first event Skilling Open. The winner of Airthings Masters will earn $60,000.

Pairings and Schedule

The Airthings Masters starts on Boxing Day, Saturday December 26th and will conclude on Sunday January 3rd. Once again there’s a 3-day preliminary round-robin stage of rapid chess (15+10), before the top 8 players advance to the knockout stage. The knockout stage is exactly like the Skilling Open where each match is played over two days, with four rapid games each day. If the match score is tied 1-1 after the second day, the players will then play two 5+3 blitz games followed by, if needed - Armageddon.

All games will start from 7:30 p.m. IST between 26th December 2020 and 3rd January 2021.

Airthings Masters Participants

The lineup includes the eight players who qualified as the top eight from the first event of Champions Chess Tour, Skilling Open. Wesley So won that event after beating the World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the Finals. Those eight players are joined by Spanish Champion David Anton Guijarro. He was voted back into the Airthings Masters despite finishing outside of the top eight qualifying places. Along with him the 3-time World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk, who won the second public vote among the chess24 premium members. They are also joined by two wild cards, former World Rapid champion Daniil Dubov, who was the only player other than Carlsen to win an event - Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge on the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour and India’s Pentala Harikrishna, who was instrumental in Team India's historic FIDE Online Olympiad Gold and also beat Carlsen in just over three months ago.

Tour standings and Prizes

The prize fund for the first Major on the Champions Chess Tour is $200,000, double that for Regular events like the Skilling Open, with the top prize rising to $60,000. One difference this time is that there will also be a match for 3rd place, to run in parallel with the final.

The winner is guaranteed a place in the Champions Chess Tour Finals next September, while the top 8 players in the overall tour standings after the Airthings Masters will automatically be invited back to the next 16-player Regular event on the tour in February 2021.

Time Control

• Rapid - 15 minutes per game + 10-second increment.

• Blitz - 5 minutes per game + 3-second increment.

• Armageddon - White has 5 minutes to Black’s 4, with no increments. If the game is drawn Black wins the match.

Official broadcast partners

ChessBase India is the official broadcast partners as Sagar Shah along with Amruta Mokal will be the hosts of the show each day. The LIVE Commentary will take place each day on ChessBase India's YouTube Channel. They will be joined by Chess24 India's IM Soumya Swaminathan.

What are the participants up to lately?

Let's take a look at what the participants have tweeted about their excitement for the event.

Links

Follow Harikrishna on twitter

Champions Chess Tour official site

Tournament regulations

Related news:

	मेगनस कार्लसन बन ही गए चैम्पियन चैस टूर विजेता @ 07/10/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	CCT Finals: Magnus Carlsen wins the first-ever NFT trophy @ 05/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R8: Aronian beats Carlsen @ 04/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Magnus Carlsen clinches Meltwater Champions Chess Tour with two rounds to spare @ 03/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R6: Carlsen beats Giri, on the brink of winning the Tour @ 02/10/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R5: Carlsen annihilates Nakamura @ 30/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R4: Artemiev beats Carlsen @ 29/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R3: Carlsen beats Vachier-Lagrave in tie-breaks @ 28/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R2: Carlsen wins a thriller against Mamedyarov @ 27/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	CCT Finals R1: Carlsen and So make a dominant start @ 26/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Magnus Carlsen wins Aimchess US Rapid with a dominant show @ 06/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Carlsen is poised to win Aimchess US Rapid @ 05/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid SF2: Artemiev will face Carlsen in the Finals @ 04/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid SF1: No advantage for anyone @ 03/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid QF2: Carlsen avenges his World Cup loss against Duda @ 02/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid QF1: Carlsen and Firouzja blaze Duda and So @ 01/09/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid Day 3: Duda-Carlsen rematch in the Quarterfinals @ 31/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid Day 2: Artemiev's hat-trick springs him to the top @ 30/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aimchess US Rapid Day 1: Carlsen makes a narrow escape against Vidit @ 29/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Vidit stars with Carlsen, Duda, Giri, MVL in Aimchess US Rapid starting today @ 28/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Wesley So wins Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters @ 09/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	So on the verge of winning the Chessable Masters @ 08/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters SF2: Phenomenal Liem will face So in the Finals @ 07/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters SF1: Advantage Liem and So @ 06/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters QF Day 2: Liem storms into Semifinals @ 05/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters QF Day 1: Jorden ends So's unbeaten streak @ 04/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters Day 3: So tops the Prelims @ 03/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters Day 2: So remains unbeaten in the first ten @ 02/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Chessable Masters Day 1: So takes an early sole lead 4.0/5 @ 01/08/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Harikrishna, Humpy and Adhiban will feature in Chessable Masters @ 31/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Levon Aronian wins Goldmoney Asian Rapid @ 05/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Aronian is one step closer to win the Goldmoney Asian Rapid @ 04/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid SF Day 2: Aronian knocks out Carlsen @ 03/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid SF Day 1: Advantage Carlsen and Ding Liren @ 02/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid QF Day 2: Arjun's dream debut comes to an end @ 01/07/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid QF Day 1: Arjun Erigaisi ends Aronian's unbeaten streak @ 30/06/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid Day 3: Magnificent Arjun Erigaisi qualifies to the Quarter-Finals @ 29/06/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid Day 2: Arjun Erigaisi continues to impress @ 28/06/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Goldmoney Asian Rapid Day 1: Arjun Erigaisi surprises Dubov @ 27/06/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Vidit, Adhiban, Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi will feature in Goldmoney Asian Rapid @ 25/06/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Carlsen finally beats So in the Finals to win FTX Crypto Cup @ 01/06/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup Finals Day 1: Carlsen-So put up a good fight while Radjabov draws the ire @ 31/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup SF Day 2: Carlsen vs So III in the Finals @ 30/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup SF Day 1: So wins the first set against Nepomniachtchi @ 29/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup QF Day 2: Carlsen eliminates Nakamura in an exciting thriller @ 28/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup QF Day 1: Carlsen and Nakamura engage in a brutal slugfest @ 27/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup Day 2 and 3: Caruana wins the Prelims 10.0/15 @ 26/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	FTX Crypto Cup Day 1: Giri in the sole lead 4.0/5 @ 24/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Carlsen will face Nepomniachtchi in World's first Bitcoin chess tournament - FTX Crypto Cup @ 23/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Arjun Erigaisi beats Adhiban to win the Indian Qualifier @ 11/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	अर्जुन नें साधा इंडियन क्वालिफायर खिताब पर निशाना @ 10/05/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Adhiban and Arjun Erigaisi qualify to the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour @ 10/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	अधिबन - अर्जुन मे होगा इंडियन क्वालिफायर फाइनल @ 09/05/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	CCT Indian Qualifier QF: Adhiban eliminates Praggnanandhaa @ 09/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	इंडियन क्वालिफायर - अधिबन नें प्रग्गा को किया बाहर @ 08/05/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	CCT Indian Qualifier Pre QF: Mitrabha stuns Sasikiran @ 08/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	इंडियन क्वालिफायर - निहाल और शशिकिरण हुए बाहर @ 07/05/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Adhiban starts as the top seed in Indian Champions Chess Tour Qualifier @ 07/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	इंडियन चैस टूर क्वालिफायर - अधिबन होंगे टॉपसीड @ 06/05/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Magnus Carlsen ends his championship drought by winning New in Chess Classic @ 03/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic Finals Day 1: Carlsen wins the first set @ 02/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic SF Day 2: Carlsen and Nakamura setup an epic clash in the Finals @ 01/05/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic SF Day 1: No one is invincible @ 30/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic QF Day 2: Carlsen, Aronian, Mamedyarov and Nakamura advance @ 29/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic QF Day 1: Advantage Aronian, Mamedyarov and Nakamura @ 28/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic Day 3: Praggnanandhaa impresses Carlsen @ 27/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic Day 2: Carlsen takes sole lead 7.0/10 @ 26/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	New in Chess Classic Day 1: Praggnanandhaa makes a brilliant start 3.0/5 @ 25/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Vidit and Praggnanandhaa set for Meltwater Champions Chess Tour New in Chess Classic @ 17/04/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	अनीश गिरि बने मेगनस इनविटेशनल विजेता @ 22/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Anish Giri deservedly wins Magnus Invitational @ 22/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल - नेपो और अनीश ? कौन बनेगा सरताज ? @ 21/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Giri or Nepomniachtchi - Who will win the Magnus Invitational? @ 21/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Magnus Invitational SF Day 2: World Champions Carlsen and So get eliminated @ 20/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Magnus Invitational SF Day 1: World Champions in peril @ 19/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल SF1 - नेपो नें कार्लसन को दिया झटका @ 19/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Magnus Invitational QF Day 2: Carlsen, So, Giri and Nepomniachtchi dominate @ 18/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल : कार्लसन ,नेपो ,सो और गिरि सेमी फाइनल मे @ 18/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Magnus Invitational QF Day 1: Advantage Carlsen and So @ 17/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल QF - कार्लसन -सो की आसान जीत @ 17/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Magnus Invitational Day 3: Carlsen tops the Prelims @ 16/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल D3 : कार्लसन की शीर्ष पर वापसी @ 16/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Magnus Invitational Day 2: Giri maintains his sole lead @ 15/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल D2 : अनीश का जलवा बरकरार @ 15/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल D1 : अनीश नें दी कार्लसन को मात @ 14/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Magnus Invitational Day 1: Giri beats Carlsen @ 14/03/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल - राउंड 1 सीधा प्रसारण : LIVE @ 13/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	मेगनस इनविटेशनल - क्या अब जीतेंगे कार्लसन ? @ 11/03/2021 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	Does Wesley So have Magnus Carlsen's number? Sagar and Amruta try to find out! @ 15/02/2021 by Satanick Mukhuty (en)
	Wesley So beats Carlsen in the Finals and wins Opera Euro Rapid @ 15/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid Finals: Carlsen and So poised for a thrilling finish @ 14/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid SF Day 2: Carlsen and So set up a rematch in the Finals @ 13/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid SF Day 1: Carlsen beats Vachier-Lagrave, Radjabov struggles against So @ 12/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid QF Day 2: Dubov pushes Carlsen to his limit @ 11/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid QF Day 1: Advantage Carlsen, Vachier-Lagrave and So @ 10/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid Day 3: Vidit misses against Carlsen @ 09/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid Day 2: Vidit beats Dubov @ 08/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Opera Euro Rapid Day 1: Carlsen takes sole lead 4.0/5 @ 07/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Vidit Gujrathi returns to Meltwater Champions Chess Tour in Opera Euro Rapid @ 05/02/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Radjabov reigns supreme in Champions Chess Tour Airthings Masters @ 04/01/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Can Radjabov win Champions Chess Tour Airthings Masters? @ 03/01/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters SF Day 2: Radjabov and Aronian rush to the Finals @ 02/01/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters SF Day 1: Radjabov and Aronian win the first set @ 01/01/2021 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters QF Day 2: Dubov eliminates Carlsen @ 31/12/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters QF Day 1: Advantage Aronian and Vachier-Lagrave @ 30/12/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters Day 3: Harikrishna, Grischuk, Giri and Anton get eliminated @ 29/12/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters Day 2: Carlsen joins the six-pack lead @ 28/12/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Airthings Masters Day 1: Harikrishna holds Carlsen to a draw @ 27/12/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Wesley So wins Champions Chess Tour Skilling Open @ 01/12/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Can Carlsen win Skilling Open on his 30th birthday? @ 30/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Skilling Open SF Day 2: So sets up a clash with Carlsen in the Finals @ 29/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Skilling Open SF Day 1: Advantage Carlsen and So @ 28/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Skilling Open QF Day 2: Nepomniachtchi, So and Nakamura make epic comebacks @ 27/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Skilling Open QF Day 1: Advantage Carlsen, Aronian, Radjabov and MVL @ 26/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Champions Chess Tour Skilling Open R11-15: Carlsen tops the preliminary stage @ 25/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Champions Chess Tour Skilling Open R6-10: Anish Giri maintains his sole lead @ 24/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Champions Chess Tour Skilling Open R1-5: Anish Giri takes sole lead @ 23/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	Vidit Gujrathi will star in the Champions Chess Tour Skilling Open @ 22/11/2020 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
	भारत से विदित गुजराती हुए चैम्पियन चैस टूर मे शामिल @ 15/11/2020 by Niklesh Jain (hi)
	मेगनस कार्लसन नें की चैम्पियन्स चैस टूर की घोषणा @ 06/11/2020 by Niklesh Jain (hi)