FIDE World Youth Chess Championship Under-16
by International Chess Federation (FIDE)
Gold: world title and IM or WIM title
World championship for players under 16, with separate Open and Girls sections, world titles, and direct FIDE titles for the medalists.
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
- 15 to 16 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Players who have not turned 16 before 1 January of the championship year, in the Open or the Girls section. Younger players may also enter. Entry is only through the national federation. Indian players are selected by AICF from the previous year's National Under-15 championship, and national medalists are entered as official players.
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Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Gold: world title and IM or WIM title
The top three in the Under-16 Open and the Under-16 Girls sections each receive a trophy and a medal. Gold earns the International Master (IM) title, or Woman International Master (WIM) in the Girls section. Silver and bronze earn the FIDE Master (FM) or Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title.
Certificate
FIDE diploma for every player
Every player receives a diploma, and every game counts toward the player's FIDE rating.
Recognition
World Youth Under-16 medalist
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Check that the player is under 16 on 1 January of the championship year
- 2Qualify through AICF's selection from the previous year's National Under-15 championship
- 3Submit AICF's entry form and pay its package when the entry notice is out
- 4Arrange passport, visa, flights and insurance for the host country
Fees & financial support
Fee details
Indian players pay AICF a rupee package covering FIDE registration, 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 a section has free full board from the organizer.
About this opportunity
The FIDE World Youth Chess Championship Under-16 is the world championship for players under 16, held by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) once a year. It has two sections, Under-16 Open and Under-16 Girls.
Each national federation enters one official player in each section, and the organizer gives official players free full board at the official hotel. The top three from the previous edition and the continental youth 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-15 championship.
Play follows the FIDE Laws of Chess over at least eleven classical rounds on the Swiss system, and every game is FIDE-rated. The top three in each section receive a trophy and a medal. The gold medalist earns the International Master title, or Woman International Master in the Girls section, and silver and bronze earn the FIDE Master or Woman FIDE Master title. Every player receives a diploma.
Rounds & format
At least eleven classical rounds on the Swiss system, one game a day with a rest day midway. Games are played at 90 minutes for the first 40 moves and 30 minutes for the rest, with 30 seconds added per move from the first move. 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 the edition'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-15 championship, taking those who finished in the top 50 of the final ranking. National champions and medalists are entered as official players, and GM, WGM, IM and WIM title holders are exempt from the national event. The top three of the previous edition and the continental youth champions of the year before have a place of their own. Medals then go by points scored, with FIDE tie-breaks.
Academic details
Difficulty: Expert
Frequently asked questions
Who can play in the Under-16 section in 2027?
Players born on or after 1 January 2011, in the Open or the Girls section. Younger players may also enter this section.
How does an Indian player get a place?
Only through AICF, the national federation. For 2026, AICF took players from the top 50 of the previous year's National Under-15 championship, entered national medalists as official players, and exempted GM, WGM, IM and WIM title holders.
What does an official player receive?
Each federation has one official player per section, who stays free with full board at the official hotel. Additional players pay their own hotel costs through the federation.
Which FIDE titles can a medalist earn?
Gold earns the International Master title, or Woman International Master in the Girls section. Silver and bronze earn the FIDE Master title, or Woman FIDE Master in the Girls section.
When will the 2027 dates be known?
FIDE names the host and dates, within its window of 15 June to 1 August 2027. AICF then posts the entry notice with its deadline on aicf.in.
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