Bhilwara Chess Festival 2026 runs from December 25-30, 2026 in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India. This is a chess tournament in Bhilwara, India, in 2026. The festival takes place at Sri Mahesh Vatika, near the Roadways Bus Stand in Bhilwara.
The festival combines two FIDE-rated events under one banner: the 3rd Bhilwara International FIDE Classical tournament and the 1st Rapid Rating tournament. Moreover, the organizer publishes a total cash prize fund of ₹9,51,000, which is approximately USD 10,230.
Zila Shatranz Sangh, Bhilwara organizes the festival under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation and the Rajasthan Chess Association. In addition, the prospectus advertises 304+ total prizes, including 119 cash prizes and 185+ trophies, so the event offers a broad reward structure across both tournaments.
🏁 Event Details
The core festival details are below.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Festival dates | December 25-30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Sri Mahesh Vatika, Near Roadways Bus Stand, Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India |
| ♟️ Format | One classical event and one rapid event |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated |
| 👥 Events | Classical Open and Rapid Open |
| ⏱️ Classical time control | 90 minutes + 30-second increment from move one |
| ⏱️ Rapid time control | 10 minutes + 5-second increment from move one |
| ⌛ Default time | Classical 30 minutes, Rapid 10 minutes |
| 👤 Participant cap | 300 players |
| 💰 Prize fund | ₹9,51,000 (approx. USD 10,230) |
| 🆔 AICF event codes | 471849 (R) 2026 and 471850 (R) / RJ / 2026 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The classical tournament uses 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. Meanwhile, the rapid tournament uses 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment from move one. Therefore, the festival gives players two very different formats in one trip.
Tie-breaks follow a clear published order. First comes Buchholz Cut 1, then Buchholz, then Sonneborn-Berger, followed by direct encounter, number of wins including forfeits, and number of wins with Black. In addition, the playing hall does not allow electronic devices or wrist watches.
The organizer also applies a firm entry policy. Players must complete AICF registration for April 2026 to March 2027 before sending their entry. Furthermore, the organizer reserves the right to accept or reject entries, and all prize winners must attend the prize ceremony to receive prizes or certificates.
💰 Prize Fund
The festival publishes a confirmed total cash prize fund of ₹9,51,000. The classical event accounts for ₹8,51,000, while the rapid event adds ₹1,00,000. Consequently, the festival delivers one of the stronger late-year prize structures on the Indian calendar.
Classical Prize Highlights
| Category | Prize details |
|---|---|
| Main prizes | 1st ₹1,00,000; 2nd ₹60,000; 3rd ₹40,000; 4th ₹21,000; 5th ₹15,000; 6th ₹11,000; 7th ₹9,000; 8th ₹8,000; 9th–10th ₹7,000; 11th–15th ₹6,000; 16th–25th ₹5,000 |
| Rating prizes | 1700 and below: top prizes from ₹50,000 to ₹5,000; 1550 and below: top prizes from ₹50,000 to ₹5,000 |
| Unrated | Top prize ₹25,000, then ₹15,000, ₹10,000, ₹7,000, ₹6,000, and several ₹5,000 prizes |
| Special categories | Female, Veteran, Rajasthan, and Bhilwara prizes |
| Youth prizes | Boys and girls U15, U13, U11, U09, U07 |
The classical tournament also adds trophies across many categories, which widens the overall prize reach well beyond the cash list.
Rapid Prize Highlights
| Category | Prize details |
|---|---|
| Main prizes | 1st ₹20,000; 2nd ₹15,000; 3rd ₹10,000; 4th ₹7,000; 5th ₹5,000; 6th ₹3,000; 7th ₹2,000; 8th ₹1,500; 9th–10th ₹1,200; 11th–15th ₹1,000 |
| Rating prizes | 1750–1551 and 1550–1400 groups |
| Unrated | Top prize ₹1,500, then ₹1,200 and ₹1,000 levels |
| Other categories | Veteran 55+, Rajasthan, Bhilwara |
| Youth prizes | Boys and girls U15, U13, U11, U09, U07 |
Rapid winners also receive trophies across the published categories.
♟️ Sections / Groups
The festival uses two separate tournaments rather than one merged field. As a result, players can choose either a full classical event, a shorter rapid event, or both.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Classical Open | Main FIDE-rated classical event with the larger prize fund |
| Rapid Open | FIDE-rated rapid event held across December 26–27 |
📅 Schedule
The schedule below follows the published festival timetable.
Classical Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| December 25, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Players Meeting |
| December 25, 2026 | 09:30 AM | Inauguration |
| December 25, 2026 | 10:30 AM | Round 1 |
| December 25, 2026 | 03:30 PM | Round 2 |
| December 26, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Round 3 |
| December 27, 2026 | 02:30 PM | Round 4 |
| December 28, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Round 5 |
| December 28, 2026 | 02:30 PM | Round 6 |
| December 29, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Round 7 |
| December 29, 2026 | 02:30 PM | Round 8 |
| December 30, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Round 9 |
| December 30, 2026 | 02:30 PM | Prize Distribution |
Rapid Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| December 26, 2026 | 02:00 PM | Players Meeting |
| December 26, 2026 | 02:15 PM | Inauguration |
| December 26, 2026 | 02:30 PM | Round 1 |
| December 26, 2026 | 03:30 PM | Round 2 |
| December 26, 2026 | 04:15 PM | Round 3 |
| December 26, 2026 | 05:00 PM | Round 4 |
| December 26, 2026 | 05:45 PM | Round 5 |
| December 27, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Round 6 |
| December 27, 2026 | 09:45 AM | Round 7 |
| December 27, 2026 | 10:30 AM | Round 8 |
| December 27, 2026 | 11:15 AM | Round 9 |
| December 27, 2026 | 12:15 PM | Prize Distribution |
📝 Registration
The registration process is payment-first. Players must pay the fee, keep the payment screenshot, and then complete the Google registration form. After that, they must attach the payment proof to the form. The organizer also states clearly that no refund request will be entertained.
| Category | Till Aug 22, 2026 | Till Oct 22, 2026 | Till Nov 22, 2026 | Till Dec 22, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | ₹5,250 | ₹5,750 | ₹6,750 | ₹7,250 |
| Rapid | ₹250 | ₹250 | ₹500 | ₹750 |
| Both events | ₹5,000 | ₹5,500 | ₹6,500 | ₹7,500 |
Free entry applies to GM, IM, WGM, WIM, and 2400+ players.
| Payment item | Details |
|---|---|
| Account name | Zila Shatranz Sangh, Bhilwara |
| Account number | 61007146336 |
| Bank | State Bank of India, Industrial Estate, Bhilwara |
| IFSC | SBIN0031093 |
| Query email | dcabhilwara@gmail.com |
👤 Organizer
Zila Shatranz Sangh, Bhilwara organizes the festival under the aegis of All India Chess Federation and Rajasthan Chess Association. The published technical team lists Narendra Shrimali as Chief Arbiter and Pavan K. Rathi as Deputy Chief Arbiter, while the organizer uses a dedicated festival email for player questions.
Email: dcabhilwara@gmail.com
📍 Venue
Sri Mahesh Vatika, Near Roadways Bus Stand, Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India
The festival uses Sri Mahesh Vatika as its fixed playing venue. In addition, the organizer offers shared accommodation at the venue on a first-come basis. The published rate is ₹1,600 per player from December 24 after 7:00 PM to December 30 at 9:00 AM, with four players sharing a room. Players should also bring towels and bath kits.
🚗 How to Get There
The venue sits near the Roadways Bus Stand, so it should be easy to reach from Bhilwara’s main local transport area. Moreover, the prospectus lists several nearby hotel options within roughly 100 to 200 meters, including Rama Residency, Harpriya, Raghav, and Mid Town. That setup gives visiting players both on-site and nearby stay options.
It is a strong year-end chess festival for players who want both classical and rapid action in one trip.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $10,230
Organizer
♟️ District Chess Identity
Zila Shatranz Sangh, Bhilwara is a district-level chess organizer in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India. It operates inside the formal chess structure of Rajasthan and works under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation and the Rajasthan Chess Association for its major rated events. In practical terms, it serves as the main organizing body behind Bhilwara’s larger open tournaments and festival events. That role gives local players a clear competitive center in the district. It also gives visiting players a recognizable tournament base in southern Rajasthan. The organizer has built that identity through regular FIDE-rated events, stable venue use, and a recurring local organizing team that appears across consecutive editions.
🏆 Tournament Activity
Tournament work is the core strength of this organizer. Bhilwara staged the Bhilwara All India Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament in 2024 with a ₹6,00,000 prize fund. It then followed with the 2nd Bhilwara International Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2025, which offered ₹7,00,000 and drew a large national field. In 2026, the calendar expanded again through the Bhilwara Chess Festival, a combined rapid and classical project with a total prize fund of ₹9,51,000. The broader Bhilwara event line also included the Smt. Chanchal Dad Memorial Rating Open 2024, while the 1st LNJ Bhilwara International FIDE Rapid Rating Tournament 2026 ran under the aegis of Zila Shatranj Sangh, Bhilwara. For players, this shows real continuity. Bhilwara is not a one-event stop. It has become a repeat destination for classical and rapid rated chess.
🌱 Player Development and Local Chess Growth
The Bhilwara program also reflects wider local chess development. In recent years, the district has hosted the State U-07 Open and Girls Championships in 2022 and 2024, as well as the State Amateur Chess Championship 2022 and the State Amateur Rating Chess Championship 2023. That pattern shows a steady effort to bring age-group and pathway events into the district, not only large open tournaments. The Bhilwara events also make room for broad participation. Recent editions included age-group prizes, local categories, veteran awards, and support for visually impaired players. At the same time, the organizer has invested in stronger tournament presentation, including live broadcast boards at the 2025 international open. For chess players in Rajasthan, this matters. Bhilwara offers a stronger local route into rated competition, while also attracting titled players and larger fields from across India.
Venue on the Map
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
