36th National Under-17 Open & Girls Chess Championships 2026
36th National Under-17 Open & Girls Chess Championships 2026 The 36th National Under-17 Open & Girls Chess Championships 2026 take place in Jammu from September 28 to October 6. Separate Open and Girls championships are organized over eleven rounds under the authority of the All India Chess Federation.
Each championship uses 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Players must have been born on or after January 1, 2009 and must provide acceptable official age proof. School certificates are not accepted under the published regulations.
The combined prize fund is ₹900,000, divided equally across the Open and Girls prize schedules. The event includes a detailed national-entry procedure, strict deadlines, state-association nominations and accommodation provisions for eligible official participants.
📌 Event Details
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | September 28–October 6, 2026 |
| 🌍 Location | Jammu, India |
| ♟️ Format | Separate 11-round Open and Girls championships |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| 🎂 Eligibility | Born on or after January 1, 2009 |
| 🏆 Total Prize Fund | ₹900,000 |
| 🆔 Open Event Code | 481304/JK/2026 |
| 🆔 Girls Event Code | 481305/JK/2026 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Both championships use 90+30 from move one. The eleven-round schedule includes double-round days on September 29 and October 1.
Players must comply with the age-verification, fair-play, appeals and federation-registration procedures in the official seven-page circular.
🏆 Prize Fund & Awards
The verified published awards are summarized below. Any group, minimum-entry, eligibility or prize-sharing conditions continue to apply.
| Prize / Category | Award |
|---|---|
| Total Combined Fund | ₹900,000 |
| Open Champion | ₹90,000 |
| Girls Champion | ₹90,000 |
| Open Runner-up | ₹70,000 |
| Girls Runner-up | ₹70,000 |
| Places 3–20 | Separate published cash awards in each championship |
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section / Group | Eligibility | Format / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open Championship | Eligible players born on or after January 1, 2009 | 11 rounds |
| Girls Championship | Eligible female players born on or after January 1, 2009 | 11 rounds |
🗓️ Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| September 27 | After 14:00 | Arrival |
| September 28 | 13:45 / 14:00 / 14:30 | Technical meeting, inauguration and Round 1 |
| September 29 | 9:30 / 14:30 | Rounds 2–3 |
| September 30 | 9:30 | Round 4 |
| October 1 | 9:30 / 14:30 | Rounds 5–6 |
| October 2–5 | 9:30 daily | Rounds 7–10 |
| October 6 | 9:30 / 14:30 | Round 11 and prize distribution |
| October 6 | 16:00 | Departure |
📝 Registration
| Registration Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Ordinary entry | ₹1,250 |
| Special entry | ₹6,250 |
| Standard deadline | September 14, 2026 |
| Late fee | ₹250 after September 14 |
| Final cutoff | September 21, 2026 at 18:00 |
| Official AICF entry portal | https://prs.aicf.in/entry |
| Age proof | Official birth certificate meeting the published registration-time requirements |
Use the current official resource URLs below. Registration is complete only after the organizer confirms acceptance and any required payment.
👤 Organizer
| Organizer Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizer | All J&K Chess Association on behalf of the All India Chess Federation |
| Contact | Use the official AICF entry and organizer contacts listed in the regulations. |
| Primary Official URL | https://aicf.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/36th-National-Under-17-open-and-girls-1.pdf |
📍 Venue
Kangra Fort Banquet Hall – Bantalab Road, Barnai, Jammu 181205, India
Kangra Fort Banquet Hall is located on Bantalab Road in Barnai, Jammu.
Free dormitory accommodation is available only for the eligible official categories specified in the circular. Other participants must arrange accommodation separately.
🚗 How to Get There
| Travel Option | Practical Details |
|---|---|
| By air | Jammu Airport serves domestic flights: https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/jammu. |
| By rail | Jammu Tawi is the principal railway station: https://www.irctc.co.in/. |
| By road | Intercity road services connect Jammu with Delhi, Punjab and neighboring regions. |
| Local transfer | Use an authorized taxi or organizer transfer to Barnai and confirm the banquet-hall entrance. |
| On arrival | Complete official accreditation and accommodation allocation separately. |
Transport schedules, road conditions, engineering work and parking rules may change. Check the final route shortly before departure.
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
| Accommodation Option | URL / Practical Details |
|---|---|
| Radisson Blu Jammu | https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-jammu |
| Ramada by Wyndham Jammu City Centre | https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramada/jammu-india/ramada-jammu-city-centre/overview |
| Lemon Tree Hotel Jammu | https://www.lemontreehotels.com/lemon-tree-hotel/jammu/hotel-jammu |
Accommodation is not included unless the organizer explicitly states otherwise. Confirm availability, final price, taxes, cancellation terms, breakfast, accessibility, parking and transfer time directly before payment.
ℹ️ Other Information
Age documentation is a central eligibility condition. Players without acceptable birth certificates cannot participate.
Only authorized state coaches or managers may lodge age protests, and the official medical-evaluation provisions remain applicable.
Keep the latest organizer communication because room assignments, capacity, reporting procedures and payment instructions can change.
MyChess.Events lists the tournament for discovery and planning. Official entry must be completed through the organizer’s current channel.
✅ Final Checks Before Travel
| Check | Action |
|---|---|
| Entry confirmation | Keep written confirmation that the organizer accepted the registration and payment. |
| Eligibility | Recheck rating, age, federation, license and section requirements before departure. |
| Schedule | Verify the reporting deadline, first-round start and any last-minute timetable update. |
| Travel | Allow additional time for public transport, parking, venue access and local navigation. |
| Accommodation | Confirm the room, taxes, breakfast, cancellation policy and journey to the playing venue. |
| Documents | Bring identification, federation details, medication and any equipment requested by the organizer. |
🔗 Official Resources
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Official AICF Regulations PDF | https://aicf.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/36th-National-Under-17-open-and-girls-1.pdf |
| AICF Entry Portal | https://prs.aicf.in/entry |
| AICF Events Page | https://aicf.in/all-events/ |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - ₹900,000
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.