All India Open Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial Classical FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026

♟️ About Ahmednagar District Chess Circle

Ahmednagar District Chess Circle (ADCC) is a district-level chess organization based in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, India. Following the official renaming of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar, current 2026 tournament material increasingly uses the name Ahilyanagar District Chess Circle. However, the organization continues to appear as Ahmednagar District Chess Circle in federation records and banking information. Therefore, both names refer to the same established district chess organization.

ADCC has organized rated chess in the district for many years. Documented tournament activity extends back to at least 2011, when the Late Shantikumarji Firodia All India Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament took place in Ahmednagar. Since then, the circle has developed a recurring program of national-level classical tournaments, rating-restricted events, district championships, junior selections, and chess-official education. Moreover, it works within the structures of the Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA) and All India Chess Federation (AICF).

Narendra Firodia currently serves as President of Ahmednagar District Chess Circle. AICF also identifies Subodh Thombare as Treasurer. Meanwhile, Yashwant Bapat remains the organization’s principal operational chess contact and has served as Chief Organizer, Tournament Director, seminar coordinator, and National Arbiter. Because current tournament publications consistently direct players to Bapat, he is the most useful Contact Person for MyChess.Events.

🏆 FIDE-Rated Tournament Organization

Large FIDE-rated tournaments form a central part of ADCC’s activity. The organization regularly stages competitions that attract players from across Maharashtra and other Indian states.

The Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial series is one of its longest-running tournament projects. Editions have appeared on the Indian chess calendar for more than a decade, usually as substantial classical Swiss competitions.

ADCC also organizes tournaments honoring other members of the Firodia family. In May 2026, the circle ran the All India Open Motilalji Firodia Classical FIDE Rating Chess Tournament in Ahilyanagar. Players competed over nine classical rounds at Laxmi Narayan Mangal Karyalay.

The series has previously attracted large fields. For example, the 2024 Motilalji Firodia Rating Open drew 349 players from across India. International Master Vikramaditya Kulkarni won that edition with a perfect 9/9 score.

In July 2026, ADCC followed with the 3rd Narendraji Firodia Chashak, an All India Below-1700 Classical FIDE Rating tournament. The event again offered a ₹500,000 prize fund and used the organization’s established tournament infrastructure in Ahilyanagar.

🎓 Arbiter Development and Chess Administration

ADCC also contributes to the development of tournament officials. This work extends its role beyond simply running competitions.

In July 2025, Ahmednagar District Chess Circle organized a Senior National Arbiter Seminar and Examination on behalf of the Maharashtra Chess Association, All India Chess Federation, and AICF Arbiters’ Commission.

The seminar attracted 41 participants from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Telangana. International Arbiter Vasanth B.H. served as lecturer.

The AICF report identified Narendra Firodia as President of Ahmednagar District Chess Circle, Yashwant Bapat as Seminar Coordinator, and Subodh Thombare as Treasurer. Therefore, the event provides strong current evidence for the organization’s leadership and its role in official chess administration.

Yashwant Bapat also has extensive practical tournament experience. Chess-Results records him as Tournament Director and National Arbiter at ADCC events, while recent tournament documents identify him as Chief Organizer.

🧒 District and Youth Chess

The circle supports chess development within the Ahilyanagar district as well as national open competition. Its calendar includes district age-group selection events that give young players access to the wider Maharashtra championship structure.

In 2026, Ahilyanagar hosted district selection competition for Under-7, Under-9, and Under-13 players, with Yashwant Bapat again serving as a published organizer contact.

The association’s larger FIDE-rated events also maintain extensive junior prize structures. The 2026 Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial, for example, includes separate awards for U16, U13, U10, and U7 players.

In addition, local-player prizes recognize competitors from Ahilyanagar district and taluka. Consequently, major national tournaments organized by ADCC also create incentives and competitive opportunities for players from the local chess community.

🌟 Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial 2026

Ahmednagar District Chess Circle organizes the All India Open Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial Classical FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026 from November 11–15, 2026 in Ahilyanagar.

The event takes place at Laxmi Narayan Mangal Karyalay, Tilak Road and uses a nine-round Swiss system. Players receive 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one, while results count for FIDE rating.

The organizers advertise a total prize fund of ₹500,000, led by ₹71,000 for first place. Furthermore, the prize structure covers rating groups, veterans, unrated players, juniors, women, and local Ahilyanagar competitors.

The tournament holds AICF event code 488296. Advance entry payments go to an account held in the name of Ahmednagar District Chess Circle, which confirms the organization’s direct administrative responsibility despite the newer Ahilyanagar wording used in promotional materials.

Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial Foundation supports the event as sponsor. The foundation and ADCC are closely connected through Narendra Firodia, who serves as President of the chess circle and Chief Trustee of the foundation. However, the foundation should remain identified as a supporter rather than replacing ADCC as the tournament organizer.

🤝 Tournament Leadership and Partnerships

ADCC’s tournament activity relies on a consistent group of experienced organizers and arbiters.

Yashwant Bapat has served as Chief Organizer and Tournament Director across several editions of the organization’s events. In addition, current 2026 tournament publications use his mobile number as the principal player contact.

Subodh Thombare handles financial and payment-related administration at major events and is identified by AICF as the organization’s Treasurer. Other recurring tournament contacts include Parunath Dhokale and Prashant Dhangekar.

The circle also works regularly with the Maharashtra Chess Association, All India Chess Federation, experienced international arbiters, and the Shantikumarji Firodia Memorial Foundation. Consequently, ADCC combines a stable local organizing team with state and national federation support for its largest competitions.