7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026 is a multi-format FIDE-rated festival in Kandivali West that combines a six-day classical tournament with rapid, blitz, puzzle-racing and bughouse side events. The program is organized under the AICF/Maharashtra chess structure and uses Swami Vivekanand International School as the common venue, allowing players to build a full week of chess around one location.
The flagship event is the 9-round Khannur Open Classical, played at 90+30 from November 17–22. The festival also features a nine-round FIDE Rapid at 10+5, a nine-round FIDE Blitz at 3+2, a 30-minute speed puzzle race and a limited-team bughouse competition. The official brochure publishes event codes for the Classical, Rapid and Blitz competitions and extensive cash/trophy schedules across rating, women, youth and special categories.
The festival advertises a combined cash prize value of ₹12,00,000, approximately $12,530. The classical tournament alone accounts for ₹8 lakh, with ₹2.5 lakh for rapid, ₹1.2 lakh for blitz and ₹30,000 for the puzzle racer. Multiple online registration platforms are offered, while the organizers also publish early-bird/combo packages and direct contact numbers for registration, accommodation and general support.
📌 Event Details
7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026 is scheduled for November 17–22, 2026 in Kandivali, Mumbai, India. The verified event facts, playing format, rating status and venue are summarized here.
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | 7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 17–22, 2026 |
| 🎮 Playing Days | Tuesday–Sunday |
| 📍 Location | Kandivali, Mumbai, India |
| 🏨 Venue | Swami Vivekanand International School – MG Cross Road No. 1, Kandivali West, Mumbai 400067 |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Khannur Chess Festival organizing committee under AICF / MCA / MSDCA |
| ♟️ Format | Classical + Rapid + Blitz + Puzzle Racer + Bughouse festival |
| 🔢 Rounds | Classical 9; Rapid 9; Blitz 9; Bughouse 4 |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | Classical 90+30 |
| ⭐ Rating | Classical, Rapid and Blitz FIDE rated |
| 💰 Prize Fund | ₹12,00,000 festival cash prizes (approx. $12,530) |
| 🆔 Event Codes | Classical 499270/MH/2026; Rapid 499272/MH(R)/2026; Blitz 499273/MH(B)/2026 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The festival spans classical 90+30, rapid 10+5, blitz 3+2, puzzle and bughouse formats, with separate rating and walkover rules.
| Stage / Rule | Information |
|---|---|
| Classical | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 |
| Rapid | 10 minutes + 5 seconds increment |
| Blitz | 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment |
| Puzzle Racer | 20 puzzles / 30 minutes |
| Bughouse | 15+0; 2 players per team; 4 rounds |
| Walkover | Classical 15 minutes; Rapid 5 minutes; Blitz full time |
🏆 Prize Fund
The brochure announces ₹12 lakh, split across the Classical, Rapid, Blitz and Puzzle Racer events, with trophies for Bughouse and many category awards.
| Prize Category | Award / Details |
|---|---|
| Festival total | ₹12,00,000 cash prizes |
| Classical | ₹8,00,000, including ₹75,000 + trophy for 1st, extensive Top-25, women, rating, unrated and age prizes |
| Rapid | ₹2,50,000 with Top-20 open prizes plus rating, veteran, women and youth trophy awards |
| Blitz | ₹1,20,000 with Top-30 open cash prizes and special trophies |
| Puzzle Racer | ₹30,000; 1st ₹10,000 + trophy |
| Bughouse | Top 3 teams receive trophies |
🧩 Sections / Groups
Five formats are combined under one festival page so players can see the entire Kandivali program without fragmented duplicate listings.
| Section / Group | Eligibility / Details |
|---|---|
| Classical | Main FIDE-rated open |
| Rapid | FIDE-rated rapid |
| Blitz | FIDE-rated blitz |
| Speed Puzzle Racer | 20-puzzle, 30-minute individual challenge |
| Bughouse | Two-player team event, maximum 16 teams |
📅 Schedule
The six-day schedule interleaves the flagship Classical event with Blitz, Rapid, Bughouse and the Puzzle Racer.
| Day / Stage | Time / Details |
|---|---|
| Nov 17 | Classical R1 10:30; R2 15:30 |
| Nov 18 | Classical R3 10:30; R4 15:30; Bughouse side event |
| Nov 19 | Classical R5 10:30; R6 15:30; Bughouse side event |
| Nov 20 | Classical R7 09:00; FIDE Blitz begins 14:15 |
| Nov 21 | Classical R8 09:00; Rapid rounds begin 14:30 |
| Nov 22 | Classical R9 09:00; Rapid continues; Puzzle Racer 13:50–14:20; rapid prize distribution 17:40–19:30 |
📝 Registration
Players can enter through multiple online platforms, with published early-bird and combo prices in addition to the base event fees.
| Registration Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Classical standard fee | ₹5,500 |
| Rapid standard fee | ₹1,250 |
| Blitz standard fee | ₹600 |
| Puzzle Racer | ₹500 |
| Bughouse | ₹650 per team |
| Early-bird / combo | The brochure publishes reduced and bundled prices by deadline; verify the current tier when registering. |
| Registration platforms | Chessworld AI; CircleChess; Chessfee |
| Contacts | Anurag Khannur +91 91488 59412 | Vishwanath Madhav +91 98201 21241 |
👥 Organizer
The festival is organized through the Khannur chess committee under the AICF/Maharashtra chess framework, with two named registration/support contacts.
| Organizer Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Organizing Bodies | Khannur Group of Institutions / festival committee with AICF, Maharashtra Chess Association and Mumbai Suburban District Chess Association |
| 👤 Contact Person | Anurag Khannur |
| 📞 Phone | +91 91488 59412 |
| 👤 Additional Contact | Vishwanath Madhav | +91 98201 21241 |
📍 Venue
Swami Vivekanand International School in Kandivali West is the common venue for the festival.
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏨 Venue | Swami Vivekanand International School |
| 📍 Full Address | MG Cross Road No. 1, Kandivali West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400067, India |
| 🧭 Latitude / Longitude | 19.20957, 72.84724 |
🚆 How to Get There
Mumbai airport, the Western suburban rail line and local road transport provide several practical arrival routes.
| Transport Option | Details |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Airport | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is the main airport; taxi/ride-hail is the simplest direct transfer. |
| 🚆 Rail | Kandivali station on Mumbai’s Western Line is the principal suburban rail stop. |
| 🚕 Final connection | Use a short auto-rickshaw/taxi/ride-hail transfer from Kandivali station to Mahavir Nagar / the school campus. |
🏨 Accommodation
The brochure does not name one official hotel; the organizer contacts specifically support accommodation questions.
| Hotel / Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Kandivali / Borivali area | No single official hotel block is published in the brochure; staying in Kandivali West or neighbouring Borivali keeps travel to the venue manageable. |
| Registration support | The organizing contacts explicitly handle accommodation queries; ask them for the current recommended properties before booking. |
ℹ️ Other Information
Published festival rules cover DGT boards, electronic devices, walkovers, prize exclusivity and organizer rights.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Electronic devices | Electronic items including smart watches are not allowed in the playing hall under the published rules. |
| Boards | DGT boards are planned and games may be uploaded to the database. |
| Prize rule | Prizes are not shared; a player receives one higher-value prize only. |
| Conduct | The organizers reserve the right to reject entries and to modify the schedule if unforeseen circumstances require it. |
🔗 Official Resources
The links below are the primary official or organizer-published sources for 7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026; players should recheck them shortly before travel for late changes.
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Classical Chess-Results | Classical |
| Rapid Chess-Results | Rapid |
| Blitz Chess-Results | Blitz |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $12,530
Organizer
♟️ About Khannur Group of Institutions
Khannur Group of Institutions (KGI) is an educational and sports organization based in Ranebennur, Haveri District, Karnataka, India. Its network includes Khannur Vidyanikethan School and other educational and sports initiatives, including Khannur Sports Academy. Chess has become an important part of the group’s sports activity, with KGI organizing competitive tournaments in Karnataka and, increasingly, beyond its home region.
Through its chess program, KGI combines tournament organization with structured player development. Khannur Chess Academy provides group and individual chess training for beginners, intermediate players, and advanced students. In addition, the academy runs regular practice tournaments and game-analysis sessions. This training structure complements KGI’s growing program of open, rated, junior, and championship events.
Dr. Praveen M Khannur serves as President of Khannur Group of Institutions, while Anurag P Khannur is a key operational figure in its chess activity. Anurag is a Senior National Arbiter and regularly works in tournament organization. During 2026, KGI has maintained an active competition program, culminating in the upcoming 7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026 in Mumbai, where Anurag serves as Tournament Director.
📜 History and Development
The origins of the group are connected with Late M. M. Khannur, who is recognized by KGI as its Founder President. His educational vision continues through the institution’s current school and wider development programs.
Later, Dr. Praveen M Khannur and Dr. Shailashree P Khannur developed Khannur Vidyanikethan as part of this broader educational mission. Dr. Shailashree currently serves as CEO of Khannur Group of Institutions. Moreover, the group places sports alongside academics as an important element of student development.
This approach led to the creation of dedicated sports activities and eventually a more structured chess program. As a result, KGI now operates not only as an educational institution but also as an increasingly visible chess organizer.
🎓 Chess Development and Training
KGI’s chess-focused work is represented through Khannur Chess Academy, which provides structured online chess coaching and competitive development. Its programs include small-group courses and individual instruction across different playing levels.
Furthermore, the academy organizes weekly tournaments and game-analysis masterclasses. Titled players and experienced coaches contribute to the training program, giving developing players both instructional and practical competitive experience.
The academy’s public team includes Namitha P Khannur as Co-Founder, IM Nubairshah Shaikh as Head Coach, Abhilash T as Head of Operations, and Manjunath Murthy as Curriculum Head. Therefore, KGI’s chess activity combines tournament management with a defined coaching structure rather than operating only as an occasional event organizer.
🏆 Tournament Activity
KGI has organized several significant chess events during 2026. The 4th Khannur Open FIDE Rated Classical Chess Tournament took place in Ranebennur from January 16–20. The event operated under the aegis of the Karnataka State Chess Association and the All India Chess Federation.
In July, the Khannur name was also part of the RCC–Khannur Below 1800 Chess Festival, conducted in collaboration with Rao’s Chess Corner. The event added another large competitive tournament to the organization’s 2026 chess activity.
KGI also organized the Karnataka State Women’s FIDE Rated Championship 2026, held in Ranebennur from August 21–23. Consequently, its recent portfolio includes open FIDE-rated competition, state championship chess, collaborative events, and local player-development tournaments.
🌟 7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026
The 7th Khannur Chess Festival 2026 represents one of KGI’s most ambitious chess projects to date. The festival is scheduled for November 17–22, 2026, at Swami Vivekanand International School in Kandivali, Mumbai.
The program combines several formats. The main classical tournament is FIDE-rated, while separate rapid and blitz competitions expand the competitive schedule. In addition, the festival includes Bughouse and Puzzle Racer events, creating a broader chess-festival format rather than a single standalone tournament.
Anurag P Khannur serves as Tournament Director. The classical tournament alone carries a prize fund of ₹800,000, while the rapid and blitz events also offer substantial separate prize pools. Therefore, the seventh edition marks a significant expansion of the Khannur tournament series and extends KGI’s organizing activity from Karnataka into Mumbai.
🏛️ Organization and Leadership
Dr. Praveen M Khannur is President of Khannur Group of Institutions, while Dr. Shailashree P Khannur serves as CEO. The wider institution continues to combine education, extracurricular development, sports, and chess.
For chess matters, Anurag P Khannur is the most useful operational contact. He is registered within Karnataka chess as a Senior National Arbiter and has served as organizer, tournament contact, and Tournament Director across Khannur events. His direct involvement provides continuity between KGI’s local chess activities and its larger FIDE-rated tournaments.
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