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CompetitionVerifiedSports & Physical Development

FIDE World Cadets Cup Under-12

by International Chess Federation (FIDE)

Ages 11 to 12

Top three qualify for the World Championship

FIDE's world cup for players under 12, with separate Open and Girls events. The top three in each go on to the World Championship Under-12.

Mode

In-Person

Fee

Registration fee applies

Duration

About two weeks, including eleven rounds and a rest day

Format

Individual

Time needed

One classical game a day for about two weeks abroad

Eligibility

Age range
11 to 12 years
Location
Nationwide

Prerequisites

  • Under 12 on 1 January of the year of the Cup
  • Valid FIDE ID
  • Entry through AICF, the national federation

Players who have not turned 12 before 1 January of the year of the Cup, in the Open or the Girls event. Younger players may also enter this section. Entry is only through the national federation. Indian players are selected by AICF from the previous year's National Under-11 championship, and national champions and medalists are entered as official players.

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Rewards and recognition

Prizes

Top three qualify for the World Championship

The top three in the Under-12 Open and the Under-12 Girls events each receive a cup and a medal. They also take three of the eight places in the World Championship Under-12, held later the same year, with free full board there.

Cup and medal for the top three in each eventPlace in the World Championship Under-12 for the top threeFree full board at that World Championship

Certificate

Certificate for every player

Every player receives a certificate, and the top three in each event also receive a diploma.

Recognition

World Cadets Cup Under-12 medalist

Skills your child builds

Deep calculation over long gamesOpening preparation against unknown opponentsEndgame techniqueComposure over eleven rounds

How to apply

  1. 1Check that the player is under 12 on 1 January of the year of the Cup
  2. 2Qualify through AICF's selection from the previous year's National Under-11 championship
  3. 3Submit AICF's entry form and pay its package when the entry notice is out
  4. 4Arrange passport, visa, flights and insurance for the host country

Fees & financial support

Fee details

Indian players pay AICF a rupee package covering the registration fee, the entry fee, the official hotel and bank charges, and AICF publishes the amount in each edition's entry notice. Flights, visa and insurance are extra, and an accompanying parent pays a separate package. Each federation's official player in an event has free board and lodging from the organizer.

About this opportunity

The FIDE World Cadets Cup Under-12 is the world cup for chess players under 12, held by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) once a year. It has two events, Under-12 Open and Under-12 Girls, and it is the qualifying stage for the World Championship Under-12.

Each national federation enters one official player in each event, and the organizer gives official players free board and lodging. The top three of the previous Cup, the previous world champion and the continental cadet champions of the year before also have a place of their own. Federations may add further players, who pay their own costs. Indian players enter only through the All India Chess Federation (AICF), which selects them from the previous year's National Under-11 championship.

Play follows the FIDE Laws of Chess over eleven classical rounds on the Swiss system. The top three in each event receive a cup and a medal. They also take three of the eight places in the World Championship Under-12, held later the same year, where the world title is decided, and they stay there with free full board.

Players who have not turned 12 before 1 January of the year of the Cup may enter. Younger players may also enter this section. FIDE awards each edition to a host federation, so the country, venue and dates change every year.

Rounds & format

Eleven classical rounds on the Swiss system, one game a day with a rest day midway. Each player has 90 minutes, with 30 seconds added per move from the first move, and a player who arrives more than 30 minutes late loses the game. National rankings are not used for pairings, and medals are presented at the closing ceremony.

How entries are judged

A win scores one point and a draw half a point. Standings rank players on points, and ties are broken in the order FIDE's regulations set, which begins with direct encounter and Buchholz.

Selection process

Entry is through the national federation. AICF selects Indian players from the previous year's National Under-11 championship, taking those who finished in the top 50 of the final ranking, and enters national champions and medalists as official players. The top three of the previous Cup, the previous world champion and the continental cadet champions of the year before have a place of their own. Medals then go by points scored, with FIDE tie-breaks, and the top three go on to the World Championship Under-12.

Academic details

Chess

Difficulty: Expert

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Organization

International Chess Federation (FIDE)

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