Cuddalore Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026
Cuddalore Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026 opens its doors to players of all ratings in Virudhachalam from September 2 to 6. Virudhai Vidhyalaya CBSE School will stage nine rounds of classical chess. The time control is 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move from the start.
The Chess Federation for Physically Disabled organizes the event with an experienced arbiter team. Games will count for international rating, and Swiss-Manager will produce the pairings. Indian players should verify AICF and state requirements before registering.
The organizer advertises ₹400,000 in cash prizes and additional trophies. The current entry listing shows a ₹2,000 Open fee. Players should keep their receipt, confirm their place on Chess-Results, and save the complete school address for the journey.
📌 Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | September 2–6, 2026 |
| 📍 City / Region | Virudhachalam, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu |
| 🌍 Country | India |
| 🏛️ Venue | Virudhai Vidhyalaya CBSE School, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India |
| ♟️ Format | Classical Open |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move from move one |
| 🏆 Prize Fund | ₹400,000 / approx. $4,150 |
| 👤 Organizer | Chess Federation for Physically Disabled (CFPD), India |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1376308.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The playing format is a classical Swiss Open. Therefore, players should prepare for long games and notation duties.
| Technical Item | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| 🔄 Tournament System | Swiss system |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 9 |
| ⏱️ Clock Setting | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move from move one |
| ⭐ Rating Submission | FIDE Standard |
| 🧩 Pairing Program | Swiss-Manager |
| 🔗 Official Pairings and Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1376308.aspx?lan=1 |
However, the chief arbiter may issue extra instructions. Players should attend any technical meeting and read every notice.
In addition, players should check their colour and board number before each round. They should report any pairing error at once.
🏆 Prize Fund
Next, the organizer has published the prize information below. However, the local-currency regulations control every award.
| Prize Item | Award |
|---|---|
| 💰 Published Local Total | ₹400,000 |
| 💵 Approximate USD Equivalent | $4,150 |
| 🎁 Additional Prize Information | The current registration listing advertises four lakh rupees in cash prizes plus trophies. |
| 💱 Conversion Method | The conversion uses the RBI reference rate of INR 96.539 per US dollar on July 24, 2026. |
For reference, the USD figure above is an approximate conversion. The conversion uses the RBI reference rate of INR 96.539 per US dollar on July 24, 2026.
Therefore, players should not treat the USD figure as a guaranteed payment amount. Exchange rates can change before the event.
📂 Sections / Eligibility
Although every event in this batch is an Open, some events use a rating ceiling. Therefore, players must read the eligibility rule carefully.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| ✅ Eligibility | Open to all eligible players. Indian and Tamil Nadu registration rules apply where relevant. |
| 🪪 Federation Registration | Check every required national, state, local, FIDE, or US Chess registration. |
| 📊 Rating List | Use the list and date stated in the current regulations. |
| 🆔 Identification | Carry the relevant federation ID, FIDE ID, and personal identification. |
| ⚖️ Final Authority | The current organizer prospectus and chief arbiter. |
In addition, players should report rating errors before pairings appear. A late correction may affect eligibility or prize rights.
Finally, foreign players should confirm that the organizer has their correct federation. They should also check the FIDE ID on the starting list.
🗓️ Schedule
Chess-Results confirms nine rounds from September 2 to 6. Its schedule controls the exact round times.
| Date / Stage | Activity |
|---|---|
| Tournament Window | September 2–6, 2026 |
| Player Reporting | Use the latest official prospectus |
| Round Times | Use the Chess-Results playing schedule |
| Closing Ceremony | After the final round, subject to organizer confirmation |
Save the latest schedule and allow enough time for travel and player confirmation.
After each game, use the live pairing list rather than an earlier timetable.
📝 Registration
The current booking listing shows an entry fee of ₹2,000.
| Registration Item | Required Action |
|---|---|
| ✅ Eligibility Check | Open to all eligible players. Indian and Tamil Nadu registration rules apply where relevant. |
| 📝 Online Entry | Use only a current official or organizer-approved registration page. |
| 💳 Payment | Keep the full payment receipt and transaction reference. |
| 📋 Starting List | Verify the player’s name, federation, title, and rating on Chess-Results. |
| ↩️ Withdrawal | Read the current refund rule before payment. |
| ⏳ Late Entry | Ask the organizer before travelling without confirmed acceptance. |
| Resource | Full URL |
|---|---|
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1376308.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🌐 Official Organizer Page | https://www.chessentry.in/ |
| 🔗 Registration Resource 1 | https://www.chessentry.in/ |
| 🔗 Registration Resource 2 | https://aicf.in/all-events/ |
Therefore, a payment receipt alone may not prove final acceptance. Players should obtain confirmation from the organizer.
In addition, players should retain screenshots of the completed form. They should save every organizer reply.
👤 Organizer
| Contact Item | Information |
|---|---|
| 👤 Organizer | Chess Federation for Physically Disabled (CFPD), India |
| 👤 Tournament Director | IA Anandh Babu VL |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | IA Srivatsan R |
| 👥 Deputy / Additional Arbiter | IA Dhanasekara |
| 📞 Telephone | +91 98942 78402; +91 95247 69843 |
| ✉️ Email | Confirm the current tournament email with CFPD |
| 🌐 Official Page | https://divyangchess.com/ |
Moreover, players should contact the organizer about entry disputes and invitation letters. They should also report accessibility needs early.
However, unofficial social posts may become outdated. The current organizer page and Chess-Results record remain the best operational sources.
📍 Venue
Virudhai Vidhyalaya CBSE School, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India
| Venue Check | Guidance |
|---|---|
| 📍 Complete Address | Virudhai Vidhyalaya CBSE School, Virudhachalam, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India |
| 🚪 Correct Entrance | Check the organizer’s final entrance instructions. |
| ⏰ Arrival Buffer | Reach the building before the reporting deadline. |
| ♿ Accessibility | Ask about step-free access and adapted facilities. |
| 🍽️ Food | Confirm on-site catering and nearby meal options. |
| 🅿️ Parking | Check local parking rules before arrival. |
However, the postal address may not identify the playing-hall entrance. Players should save any map pin from the organizer.
In addition, players should carry the venue name in the local language when useful. This can help taxi drivers and hotel staff.
🚗 How to Get There
Virudhachalam has rail and bus links within Tamil Nadu. Travellers should compare Chennai and Tiruchirappalli airport routes.
| Travel Method | Planning Guidance |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Air | Compare the nearest practical airport and the final ground transfer. |
| 🚆 Rail | Check the final station, arrival time, and local connection. |
| 🚌 Bus | Review intercity and local timetables for the event dates. |
| 🚗 Car | Use the complete venue address and allow time for parking. |
| 🚕 Taxi / Rideshare | Confirm pickup rules and late-evening availability. |
| 🔙 Return Journey | Avoid a departure that conflicts with the final round or awards. |
Therefore, players should avoid a same-day arrival with little margin. A delayed journey can cause a forfeit.
In addition, travellers should keep an offline copy of the route. Mobile coverage or data access may fail.
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
Search in Virudhachalam first. Confirm the road distance to the school before booking.
| Booking Check | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 📏 Distance | Measure the actual road journey to the venue. |
| ↩️ Cancellation | Choose flexible terms when possible. |
| ☕ Breakfast | Check service hours against early rounds. |
| 🔇 Noise | Request a quiet room for rest and preparation. |
| 📶 Internet | Confirm reliable access for pairings and travel updates. |
| 💳 Payment | Check taxes, deposits, and accepted cards. |
| 🕘 Late Arrival | Tell the property when travel may delay check-in. |
In addition, players should confirm the hotel’s exact address before payment. Properties with similar names may sit in different districts.
Finally, players should review the return journey after the last round. A late finish may require one extra night.
🛂 Visa & Travel Documents
Foreign players should check the official immigration source below. Therefore, they should not rely only on advice from a booking website.
| Travel Document | Check |
|---|---|
| 🛂 Official Visa Information | https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ |
| 🛃 Passport | Check validity and blank-page requirements. |
| 🔁 Transit | Review rules for every connecting country. |
| ✉️ Invitation | Request an organizer letter early when required. |
| 🛡️ Insurance | Consider medical and travel-cover requirements. |
| 🎫 Return Evidence | Carry accommodation and onward-travel records when required. |
However, tournament registration does not grant immigration permission. Each player remains responsible for legal entry.
In addition, foreign players should check local payment and currency rules. They should also keep digital copies of key documents.
ℹ️ Other Information
- ✓ The event uses a nine-round Swiss system.
- ✓ The organizer will calculate FIDE Standard ratings.
- ✓ Players should keep their AICF and state registrations active.
- ✓ The school address should appear in every travel booking.
- ✓ Players should request accessibility guidance before travel.
Meanwhile, FIDE rules and the current organizer regulations govern play. The chief arbiter resolves technical questions during the event.
Therefore, players should read the final regulations before Round 1. They should ask questions before a dispute occurs.
✅ Final Checks Before Travel
Finally, complete every check before departure. Therefore, the player can reduce avoidable registration and travel problems.
| Final Check | Required Action |
|---|---|
| ♟️ Tournament Format | Confirm that the entry covers the classical Open. |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | Open the direct record and verify the player data. |
| 🏆 Prize Fund | Treat ₹400,000 as authoritative. The USD estimate is $4,150. |
| 📝 Registration | Check acceptance, payment, and every required federation ID. |
| 📅 Schedule | Recheck reporting and round times shortly before travel. |
| 🏛️ Venue | Save the complete address and entrance instructions. |
| 🏨 Accommodation | Confirm the booking, cancellation rule, and journey time. |
| 🛂 Travel Documents | Verify passport, visa, transit, and insurance rules. |
| 📞 Organizer Contact | Save the telephone number, email, and official page. |
| 🎒 Equipment | Check whether players must bring a board, pieces, clock, or pen. |
In addition, recheck the page during the final 48 hours. The organizer may publish a late venue or schedule notice.
🔗 Official Resources
| Resource | Official URL |
|---|---|
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1376308.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🌐 Organizer / Official Page | https://www.chessentry.in/ |
| 🛂 Official Visa Information | https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ |
| 💱 Official Exchange-Rate Source | https://m.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewBulletin.aspx?Id=22920 |
| 🔗 Registration / Information 1 | https://www.chessentry.in/ |
| 🔗 Registration / Information 2 | https://aicf.in/all-events/ |
| ♟️ AICF Events | https://aicf.in/all-events/ |
| 🪪 AICF Player Registration | https://aicf.in/online-player-registration/ |
| ♟️ Tamil Nadu State Chess Association | https://tamilchess.com/ |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $4,150
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Chess Federation for Physically Disabled, commonly abbreviated as CFPD India, is a national chess organization based in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, India. The federation promotes competitive chess and player development for people with physical disabilities across the country. It operates under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Rules and states that it is affiliated with the All India Chess Federation and recognized by the Paralympic Committee of India.
CFPD aims to create a clear pathway from community and regional chess to national and international competition. Its work includes player registration, tournament organization, coaching support, international-team assistance, sponsorship coordination, and programs that help players overcome financial or accessibility barriers. The federation also cooperates with the International Physically Disabled Chess Association and other chess bodies when delivering major events.
🏆 Tournaments and Chess Events
CFPD organizes national championships, FIDE-rated tournaments, rapid and classical competitions, and events for players with different disabilities and rating levels. It also works with state associations, district chess organizations, schools, sponsors, and local tournament teams.
In 2025, CFPD helped organize the 24th World IPCA Individual Chess Championship in Goa. The international program included classical, rapid, and blitz competitions for players representing national federations and disability-chess organizations. FIDE published the event announcement and identified CFPD among the principal organizers.
The federation also runs an expanding series of open FIDE-rated tournaments. These include rating-restricted competitions that welcome both disabled and non-disabled players. The Pudukkottai Below 1700 FIDE Rating Tournament 2026 forms part of this program. CFPD is organizing the nine-round event in Pudukkottai, with IA Anandh Babu V. L. serving as tournament director and chief arbiter.
🌱 Para Chess and Player Development
CFPD supports players from the district level through international representation. Its programs include national and regional tournaments, training camps, player databases, coaching assistance, medical coordination, and support for international travel.
Furthermore, the federation promotes inclusive tournament conditions and works to increase the visibility of Indian para chess. Its leadership includes arbiters, coaches, administrators, medical professionals, and experienced disability-chess representatives. IA Anandh Babu V. L., the federation’s general secretary and a FIDE IPCA councillor, serves as a principal contact for tournaments, player registration, partnerships, and international participation.
Hotels Near the Venue
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