National Under-11 Open & Girls Chess Championship
by All India Chess Federation (AICF)
FIDE-rated National Championship
Annual AICF national chess championship for under-11 players, with separate Open and Girls sections played over 11 Swiss-system rounds.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹1,250
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Seven days, with eleven Swiss-system rounds
Eligibility
Open to Indian nationals under 11 years of age (born on or after 1 January 2015), with separate Open and Girls sections, entered through their State Chess Association affiliated to AICF.
- Age range
- 4 to 11 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Indian nationality
- Born on or after 1 January 2015 (under 11)
- Entry forwarded by the affiliated State Chess Association
- Current-year AICF player registration
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Rs 8,00,000 prize fund
A total prize fund of Rs 8,00,000 (Rs 4,00,000 per section) is distributed across the top 20 in each section, with Rs 70,000 for first place, and special prizes for all players.
Prizes
National titles & trophies
National Champion titles and trophies are awarded in both the Open and Girls sections, with special prizes for every player.
Certificate
AICF participation certificate
AICF certificate of participation; performance contributes to FIDE rating where applicable.
Recognized by
Recognition
FIDE-rated National Championship
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration closed
- 25 Jul 2026
- Competition
- 2 Aug 2026 to 8 Aug 2026
- Results
- 8 Aug 2026
How to apply
- 1Confirm under-11 age eligibility and complete current-year AICF player registration
- 2Submit the entry through the affiliated State Chess Association
- 3Register and pay the entry fee online on the AICF entry portal
- 4Travel to the host city for in-person play across the eleven rounds
Rules and guidelines
- Conducted under the FIDE Laws of Chess and the Swiss pairing system
- Separate Open and Girls sections for players under 11
- Entries must be routed through the affiliated State Chess Association
- A valid birth certificate is mandatory; school certificates are not accepted
- Default time for arriving at the chessboard is 15 minutes
Fees and financial support
Fee details
Ordinary entry fee around Rs 1,250 per player, with a higher special-entry fee for unqualified entrants. A 50 percent concession applies for players from the North Eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The exact fee is set in each edition's circular and paid online through the AICF portal.
About this opportunity
The National Under-11 Chess Championship is the annual age-category national event for chess players below the age of 11, conducted by the All India Chess Federation. It runs separate Open and Girls sections, both played under the Swiss pairing system.
Participation is open to Indian nationals who meet the under-11 age cutoff and whose entries are forwarded by their State Chess Association affiliated to AICF. Each state may enter players directly, with additional seeded places for previous-edition top finishers and titled players.
Winners earn the National Champion title in their section, cash prizes from a substantial prize fund, and FIDE rating points based on their performance. National titles also support selection consideration for international Asian and World youth events.
The championship is FIDE-rated and played over eleven rounds at a classical time control, with free dormitory accommodation provided for selected and seeded players.
Rounds and format
An eleven-round Swiss tournament played under the FIDE Laws of Chess at 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. Default time at the board is 15 minutes. Games are FIDE-rated and final standings are decided at the close of round eleven.
How entries are judged
Standings are decided by points, with tie-breaks in order: Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, direct encounter and number of wins.
Selection process
Entries are forwarded by State Chess Associations, with each state sending players per section plus seeded slots for previous-edition top finishers and titled players. Final placings are decided by Swiss points and tie-breaks.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
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