National Under-15 (Sub-Junior) Chess Championship
by All India Chess Federation (AICF)
FIDE-rated National Sub-Junior
Annual AICF Sub-Junior national chess championship for under-15 players with separate Open and Girls sections, played over Swiss-system rounds.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹1,250
Participation format
Individual
Duration
9 days
Eligibility
Open to Indian nationals in the Under-15 category, in separate Open and Girls sections, entered by their affiliated State Chess Association. The age limit is set by date of birth in each edition's circular: for the 2026 edition a player must be born on or after 1 January 2011, so the oldest eligible player is 15. Age must be proved by a panchayat, municipality or corporation birth certificate registered within one year of birth; school certificates are not accepted.
- Age range
- 10 to 15 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Indian nationality
- Entry forwarded by the player's State Chess Association affiliated to AICF
- Compliance with AICF age-eligibility cutoff for the Under-15 Sub-Junior category
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Cash prizes to the top 20 per section
The championship carries a total prize fund of Rs 9,00,000, of which Rs 4,50,000 is awarded in each section to the top twenty players: Rs 90,000 and a trophy for first, Rs 70,000 for second, Rs 58,000 for third, down to Rs 6,000 each for eleventh to twentieth. Every player receives a medal.
Prizes
Trophy, medals & cash
Cash prizes total Rs 9,00,000 across the two sections, with trophies for the top three and a medal for every participant.
Certificate
AICF participation certificate
AICF certificate of participation; performance contributes to FIDE rating where applicable.
Recognized by
Recognition
National Under-15 ranking
Skills your child builds
Key dates
- Registration closed
- 5 Oct 2026
- Competition
- 12 Oct 2026 to 20 Oct 2026
Late fee applies after
A late fee of Rs 250 per player applies to entries after this day.
Saroor Nagar Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, Telangana
How to apply
- 1Confirm Under-15 age eligibility with the State Chess Association
- 2Submit entry through the affiliated State Chess Association to AICF
- 3Register on the AICF entry portal at prs.aicf.in/entry; new players use prs.aicf.in/new-register
- 4Pay the entry fee as notified in the official tournament circular
- 5Travel to Punjab for in-person play across the championship dates
Rules and guidelines
- Tournament conducted under FIDE Laws of Chess and the Swiss pairing system
- Separate Open and Girls sections in the Sub-Junior category
- Default time for arriving at the chessboard is 15 minutes
- Entries must be routed through the affiliated State Chess Association
Fees and financial support
Fee details
The ordinary entry fee is Rs 1,250 per player and the special entry fee, for players entering outside their state quota, is Rs 6,250. Players from the North Eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands pay half. Fees are paid online through the AICF entry portal, and a late fee of Rs 250 per player applies after the date set in each edition's circular.
About this opportunity
The National Under-15 Sub-Junior Chess Championship is the annual age-category event conducted by the All India Chess Federation for chess players below the age of 15. The championship runs separate Open and Girls sections, both played under FIDE Laws of Chess using the Swiss pairing system.
Entries to the championship are routed through the player's State Chess Association affiliated to AICF, and registration is completed on the AICF entry portal. The event is FIDE-rated, with results contributing to international rating progression.
National champions in the Open and Girls sections earn selection consideration for Asian and World youth events conducted by FIDE, in addition to the National Sub-Junior Champion title and prize money from the tournament prize fund.
Rounds and format
The championship is a single Swiss-system tournament, not a knockout: every entrant plays every round and there is no elimination. The round count is fixed in each edition's circular and has been as many as eleven. Play is under the FIDE Laws of Chess at 90 minutes per player with a 30 second increment from move one. A player who arrives more than 15 minutes after the start of a game loses it, and players may not agree a draw before each has made 30 moves without the arbiter's consent. The Open and Girls sections are run as separate Swiss tournaments side by side. Pairings avoid putting two players from the same state against each other in the last round, applied to the top half of the field, unless there is no compatible opponent within one point.
How entries are judged
The winner is the player with the most points after the final round: a win scores one point and a draw a half. There is no subjective judging. Ties are broken in a fixed order: Buchholz Cut 1, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, then the direct encounter between the tied players, then the greater number of wins including forfeits, then the greater number of wins with the black pieces. Tied players keep their own cash prize; prize money is not shared.
Selection process
Entry is through a state association, not by individual application, and the field is built from quotas and seeded places rather than an open draw. Every affiliated state association may send four players in each section, and unfilled quota places are not reassigned. Seeded places go to the top four from the previous edition, the top two from the previous National Under-13, the previous National Under-11 champions, reigning world and Asian age-group medallists, and all GMs and IMs in the Open section and WGMs and WIMs in the Girls section, each subject to the age limit. The states that won gold, silver and bronze at the previous edition get three, two and one extra entries. A player outside every quota may still enter by paying the higher special entry fee, again routed through their state association. AICF may accept or reject any entry without giving a reason. Winners are decided on the board. Cash prizes go to the top 20 in each section and every player receives a medal.
Frequently asked questions
What are effective preparation strategies for participants aiming for success in this national championship?
Participants should focus on consistent practice, studying opening theory, improving tactical vision, and mastering endgame techniques. Regular practice games, analyzing grandmaster games, and solving chess puzzles can significantly enhance performance. Physical and mental conditioning are also crucial for maintaining focus throughout the nine rounds.
What is the role of State Chess Associations in the application and participation process?
State Chess Associations are crucial as all entries must be routed through them. They manage the state quotas, forward player entries to AICF, and ensure compliance with eligibility criteria. Participants should contact their respective state associations for guidance on the application process and deadlines.
How are ties resolved in the event of multiple players having the same score at the end of the championship?
Ties are broken using a specific order of criteria: Buchholz Cut 1, followed by Buchholz, Sonneborn-Berger, direct encounter between tied players, greater number of wins (including forfeits), and finally, the greater number of wins with black pieces. Prize money is not shared among tied players.
What specific equipment and dress code are required for participants during the championship?
Participants are required to bring their own working chess clock. A formal dress code is enforced, and players must wear their respective state's uniform during the championship rounds. Adherence to these rules is mandatory for all participants.
What opportunities become available to participants, especially top performers, after the championship concludes?
The national champions in both Open and Girls sections are considered by AICF for selection to represent India in the Asian and World Youth Chess Championships. Additionally, as a FIDE-rated event, strong performances contribute to improving a player's international rating, opening doors for further competitive opportunities.
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