The Velammal-AICF International Women Grand Master round-robin chess tournament will begin in Chennai today. Six Woman International Masters  from India will take on six foreign players including two woman Grand Masters (VGM) in the tournament. 

It is a novel initiative of All India Chess Federation which provide opportunities to the country's young Women International Masters to obtain WGM norms in home conditions. 

The Indian participants at the tournament are Aakanksha Hagawane, Saloni Sapale, P Michelle Catherina, V Varshini, Divya Deshmukh and Chandreyee Hajra.