Commonwealth School Chess Championship Under-9
by Commonwealth Chess Association (CCA)
Commonwealth medal and trophy
A nine round Commonwealth chess championship section for school players under 9, with individual and country team titles decided separately for boys and girls.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹18,510 for the national school champion, others ₹90,990 sharing a room or ₹1,02,510 single
Participation format
Individual
Duration
9 days
Eligibility
Open to school chess players from Commonwealth countries under-9, playing separate boys and girls sections. Indian players qualify by finishing in the top 50 of the final ranking list of the corresponding Under-9 National School Over the Board Championship, and titled players are exempt from that. Entries come through the national federation, which for India is AICF.
- Age range
- 8 to 9 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- A player from a Commonwealth country
- For Indian players, a top 50 finish in the corresponding Under-9 National School Over the Board Championship, unless the player holds a GM, WGM, IM or WIM title
- Entry submitted through the national chess federation
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Gold, silver and bronze with trophy
Individual medals are awarded inside the Under-9 section. The country team title in the same section needs at least three players from that country, and the scores of its best three are added to decide it.
Certificate
Commonwealth e-certificate
The championship is held under the auspices of the Commonwealth Chess Association and FIDE, and e-certificates are issued to the medallists in each section.
Recognized by
Recognition
Commonwealth level recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration closed
- 8 Sept 2026
- Competition
- 4 Oct 2026 to 12 Oct 2026
How to apply
- 1For India, confirm the top 50 finish in the corresponding Under-9 National School Over the Board Championship, or a GM, WGM, IM or WIM title
- 2Submit the mandatory Google form that AICF publishes for interested players and accompanying persons
- 3Pay the rupee package online through the AICF payment portal
- 4Arrange the visa, flights and insurance, which the federation does not cover
Rules and guidelines
- Nine rounds of Swiss pairing at 90 minutes per player with a 30 second increment from move one
- Each country fields one boy and one girl per age category as Official Players, and may add any number of Additional Players
- Official entries must be submitted by the national federation on the official registration form
- Where a category draws fewer than five federations or ten players, the organiser may merge it with another
- All officials, non-official players and accompanying persons must stay at the official hotel
Fees and financial support
Fee details
AICF quotes Indian players a single rupee package that covers the registration fee, the entry fee, accommodation at the official hotel and bank charges. A player who finished first in the corresponding National School Over the Board Championship pays Rs 18,510. An Additional Player pays Rs 1,02,510 in a single room or Rs 90,990 sharing a double, and an accompanying person pays Rs 88,110 or Rs 76,590 on the same basis. Titled players pay less: a Grandmaster or Woman Grandmaster above the rating threshold pays Rs 11,310 for registration and bank charges only. Visas, flights and insurance are arranged and paid for by the family. Payment is made online through the AICF payment portal.
About this opportunity
The Commonwealth Schools Chess Championship Under-9 is the age category for players.
The section is played as its own nine round Swiss tournament at 90 minutes per player with a 30 second increment from move one, separately for boys and girls. Each country fields one boy and one girl in the section as its Official Players, and may register any number of Additional Players alongside them.
Both an individual and a team title are decided. The individual champion takes a gold medal, a trophy and an e-certificate, with silver and bronze to the next two. The country team title in the section needs at least three players from that country, and the scores of its best three are added to decide it.
For Indian players the route runs through AICF. Players who finished in the top 50 of the final ranking list of the corresponding Under-9 National School Over the Board Championship are eligible, and titled players are exempt from that requirement. Entries are submitted through the federation, not by a family directly.
Rounds and format
Nine rounds of Swiss pairing, prepared with Swiss Manager, at 90 minutes per player with a 30 second increment from move one.
How entries are judged
Games are won, drawn or lost under the FIDE Laws of Chess. Final standings rank players by points, broken in order by direct encounter, greater number of wins with forfeits counted, Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz Cut 2 and the greater number of wins with the black pieces.
Selection process
Placings inside the section are decided on points across the nine rounds. Ties are broken in order by direct encounter, the greater number of wins with forfeits counted but a pairing bye not treated as a forfeit, Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz Cut 2, and then the greater number of wins with the black pieces. The country team title needs three players from that country in the section, and the scores of the best three are added.
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