Athens of the East 6th International Grandmaster Open Chess Tournament 2026 takes place from December 22 to December 31, 2026 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Organized by Ananthi Chess Academy, the festival combines five separate FIDE-rated competitions for players across a wide range of ratings.

The flagship Category A is a ten-round 2100+ Grandmaster Open at Amika Hotel. Meanwhile, Categories B, C, D and E are played at Vallaba Vidyalaya CBSE School. Category C is a one-day FIDE-rated Blitz tournament, while B, D and E are rating-restricted classical events.

The organizer publishes a combined ₹5,800,000 cash prize fund – approximately $60,920 – together with 3 cars, 21 Royal Enfield motorcycles, 3 EV bikes and 200 chess clocks.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The five competitions use separate time controls according to their category.

Category A – Grandmaster Open

Category B – Below 2100

Category C – Blitz

Category D – Below 1800

Category E – Below 1600

For the classical categories, the published default / walkover time is 30 minutes.

Players may not agree to a draw before Black has completed the 30th move, subject to the tournament regulations and arbiter authority.

The general Swiss-event tie-break order is:

1. Buchholz Cut 1
2. Buchholz
3. Sonneborn-Berger
4. Direct Encounter
5. Greater number of wins, including forfeits
6. Number of wins with Black

🏆 Prize Fund

The festival advertises a combined cash prize fund of:

₹5,800,000 – approximately $60,920

In addition, the published prize package includes:

3 cars · 21 Royal Enfield motorcycles · 3 EV bikes · 200 chess clocks

Cash prizes are not shared in the event of a tie. Indian income-tax rules apply.

Category Prize Fund Overview

🥇 Category A – Main Prizes

Category A – Rating & Local Prizes

Both the 2201–2300 and 2101–2200 rating groups receive:

Best Madurai District Player: ₹100,000 – approx. $1,060.

🥇 Category B – Headline Prizes

The same additional rating-prize structure applies separately to 1651–1800, 1501–1650 and 0–1500:

Category B also awards 50 chess clocks to boys and girls separately in U7, U9, U11, U13 and U15, covering 1st–5th place in each age/gender category.

⚡ Category C Blitz – Main Prizes

Separate Madurai prizes are ₹5,000 / ₹3,000 / ₹2,000 for the top three.

The same rating-prize structure applies separately to 1651–1850, 1501–1650 and 0–1500. Each group offers an EV bike to the winner, together with cash awards.

Category C also distributes 50 chess clocks across boys’ and girls’ U7, U9, U11, U13 and U15 categories.

🥇 Category D – Main Prizes

Additional identical rating-prize structures are provided for:

1551–1700 · 1400–1550 · Unrated

Each of those groups awards Royal Enfield motorcycles to the top two finishers.

Category D also includes 50 chess clocks for boys’ and girls’ U7, U9, U11, U13 and U15 categories.

🥇 Category E – Main Prizes

Additional prize groups are offered for:

1400–1530 · Unrated

Each of those groups awards Royal Enfield motorcycles to the top two finishers.

Category E also includes 50 chess clocks for boys’ and girls’ U7, U9, U11, U13 and U15 categories.

🧩 Sections / Groups

🅰️ Category A – Grandmaster Summit

Players rated below 2100 are not eligible, and the brochure states that no exceptions will be considered.

The 40 untitled places are intended for norm seekers and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis after confirmation.

🅱️ Category B – Below 2100

The brochure states that eligible players must have remained at 2099 or below for the applicable three-year period beginning December 1, 2023.

🅲 Category C – Blitz

🅳 Category D – Below 1800

🅴 Category E – Below 1600

For rating-restricted events, the brochure also reproduces the applicable AICF rating-restriction rules. Players who have crossed a relevant threshold, or who have recently placed first or second in another rating-restricted event, should verify their eligibility before registering.

📅 Schedule

Category A

On December 25, the organizer provides free pickup and drop-off transport from Amika Hotel to the Category C Blitz venue. The vehicle is scheduled to leave Amika Hotel at 14:30.

Category B

The Category B prize ceremony follows the Category C Blitz competition.

Category C Blitz

Category D

Category E

📝 Registration

Each category has its own official registration page and deadline.

Entry Fees

For Category A, GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs receive free entry, subject to the organizer’s limited-seat approval process.

For Category C Blitz, the official brochure also grants free entry to GMs, WGMs, IMs and WIMs.

Registration Deadlines

Official Registration Links

Category A:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/product/aoe-6th-international-grandmaster-open-chess-tournament-2026-category-a/

Category B:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/product/aoe-6th-international-grandmaster-open-chess-tournament-2026-category-b/

Category C Blitz:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/product/aoe-6th-international-grandmaster-open-chess-tournament-2026-category-c-blitz/

Category D:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/product/aoe-6th-international-grandmaster-open-chess-tournament-2026-category-d/

Category E:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/product/aoe-6th-international-grandmaster-open-chess-tournament-2026-category-e/

Indian Player Registrations

Indian players must have valid AICF registration for 2026–2027. The brochure lists the AICF registration fee as ₹300 – approximately $10.

Tamil Nadu players additionally require TNSCA registration, listed at ₹150 – approximately $10.

Madurai district players require Madurai DCC registration, listed at ₹75 – approximately $10.

👥 Organizer

📍 Venue

Category A

Amika Hotel – No. 269/1D1, Ring Road, Avaniyapuram, Madurai 625012, Tamil Nadu, India

Amika Hotel is the exclusive playing venue for Category A. The hotel is located on the Ring Road near Madurai Airport.

The hotel itself states that it is approximately 7 km from Madurai Airport and offers accommodation, restaurant facilities, parking, EV charging and other hotel amenities.

Categories B, C, D & E

Vallaba Vidyalaya CBSE School – Thiruvizhanpatti, Alagarkovil Main Road, Arumbanur, Madurai 625104, Tamil Nadu, India

All players in Categories B–E must report to Vallaba Vidyalaya.

The school is located on Alagarkovil Main Road in Arumbanur. Its official site lists the campus approximately 8.4 km from Madurai Integrated Bus Stand and 14.2 km from Madurai Railway Junction.

🚆 How to Get There

The festival uses two different venues, so players should confirm their category before travelling.

🚗 By Car – Category A

Venue address: Amika Hotel – No. 269/1D1, Ring Road, Avaniyapuram, Madurai 625012, Tamil Nadu, India

Amika Hotel is situated on the Ring Road in Avaniyapuram, close to Madurai Airport. Drivers and taxi passengers should use the exact hotel name and full address because Categories B–E are held at a different venue.

The hotel provides parking facilities and an EV charging bay.

🚗 By Car – Categories B–E

Venue address: Vallaba Vidyalaya CBSE School – Thiruvizhanpatti, Alagarkovil Main Road, Arumbanur, Madurai 625104, Tamil Nadu, India

Players in Categories B, C, D and E should travel directly to Vallaba Vidyalaya on Alagarkovil Main Road.

Do not navigate to Amika Hotel unless you are playing Category A or using a specifically announced organizer transfer.

✈️ By Air

Madurai Airport is the nearest airport.

The Airports Authority of India places Madurai Airport approximately 12 km from central Madurai, while Amika Hotel states that its property is approximately 7 km from the airport.

For Category A, a taxi or other road transfer from the airport to Amika Hotel is therefore relatively direct.

Players in Categories B–E need to continue across Madurai toward Vallaba Vidyalaya in Arumbanur. Vallaba Vidyalaya lists its campus about 24.5 km from the Madurai Airport Junction area.

🚆 By Train

Madurai Junction is the city’s principal railway station.

The Madurai District administration confirms direct rail connections between Madurai and major Indian cities including Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata.

Vallaba Vidyalaya lists its campus approximately 14.2 km from Madurai Railway Junction.

Players arriving by train can continue to either venue by taxi, app-based ride or other local road transport.

🚌 By Bus

For Categories B, D and E, the tournament brochure provides a particularly useful service for outstation participants.

The organizer announces free pickup and drop-off from Mattuthavani / M.G.R. Integrated Bus Stand for qualifying outstation participants and accompanying persons staying in hotels.

The exact pickup timing is scheduled to be published through Chess-Results one day before the start of the relevant tournament.

Vallaba Vidyalaya officially lists its campus approximately 8.4 km from Madurai Integrated Bus Stand.

🔄 Between Amika Hotel and Vallaba Vidyalaya

Players combining Category A with Category C Blitz need to use both tournament venues on December 25.

For this specific combination, the organizer provides a free transfer from Amika Hotel to the Blitz venue at Vallaba Vidyalaya.

The vehicle is scheduled to depart Amika Hotel at 14:30 on December 25. Category C Round 1 begins at 15:00.

ℹ️ Other Information

🏨 Accommodation – Category A

The brochure requires participating Category A players to stay at the official hotel under the published Category A conditions.

Accommodation benefits for titled players are:

The 40 untitled Category A places are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis after organizer confirmation. Untitled players should not pay the entry fee until they receive confirmation of participation.

Official accommodation contacts:

Lokesh N: +91 95004 73599
Saurav: +91 99427 92888

🛏️ Accommodation – Categories B, D & E

Players who request accommodation in Categories B, D and E are offered free unfurnished dormitory accommodation for the duration of their event.

Each dormitory may accommodate approximately 10–15 people. Bedding is available on a rental basis.

Male players may not share accommodation with female parents, and female players may not stay with male parents. The organizer states that accommodation is arranged in the same building but on separate floors.

Category B Accommodation Dates

Category D Accommodation Dates

Category E Accommodation Dates

Late check-out is not permitted under the published accommodation rules.

🍽️ Food

The detailed category regulations state that food coupons will be provided to players at the venue.

Canteen facilities are available to parents and accompanying persons on a paid basis.

An accompanying person using the published dormitory/lunch arrangement is charged ₹1,000 – approximately $20 for the relevant tournament period.

🎁 Player Benefits

The official brochure advertises:

Free accommodation and lunch for players, subject to category-specific conditions.

It also advertises free international chess sets to all players.

Players should follow the detailed accommodation terms for their selected category rather than assuming Category A hotel accommodation applies to Categories B–E.

📵 Watches & Electronic Rules

Under the published AICF rules, wristwatches are strictly prohibited inside the playing area.

Players must also comply with the FIDE Laws of Chess and tournament fair-play requirements.

🪪 Tournament Identity Card

Every player must carry the tournament Identity Card to enter the playing hall.

Identity cards must be collected from the reporting area.

⚖️ Appeals

For the general FIDE-rated Swiss events, a protest against an arbiter’s decision must be made in writing within 15 minutes of the incident and accompanied by a fee of:

₹1,000 – approximately $20

The fee is refunded if the appeal is upheld.

For the Category C Blitz, the specific deadline is 10 minutes after the incident.

🚗 Vehicle Prize Conditions

Car winners receive the vehicle with temporary registration. Permanent registration, road tax, insurance and related costs are the responsibility of the winner.

If a car winner is under 18, the vehicle may be registered to a parent or eligible close blood relative under the organizer’s published conditions.

Motorcycle and EV-bike winners may arrange courier services at the help desk during the prize ceremony. The organizer does not undertake responsibility for shipping the vehicle.

🏆 Prize Collection

Prizewinners must collect their awards personally at the venue during the official prize-distribution ceremony.

Prizes will not be issued the following day, and another person may not collect a prize on the winner’s behalf.

🌍 Visa Assistance

Foreign players with a valid FIDE ID who require visa assistance may contact the All India Chess Federation and Tournament Director P. Pragadesh.

Tournament contact:

P. Pragadesh
+91 94427 76466
pragadeshchess@gmail.com

🔗 Official Links

Official Festival Page:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/aoe-6th-international-grandmaster-open-chess-tournament-2026/

Official Brochure:
https://ananthichessacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/AOE_GM_2026_Brochure_web_Final.pdf

AICF Tournament Calendar:
https://aicf.in/all-events/

Chess-Results – Category A:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1470443.aspx?lan=1

Amika Hotel:
https://amikahotels.com/

Vallaba Vidyalaya:
https://vallaba.in/