QQChess International Open 1800 and Above FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026
The QQChess International Open 1800 and Above FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026 takes place from November 26 to December 1, 2026 in Quepem, Goa, India. Quepem Taluka Chess Association and Queens Chess and Cultural Club organize the six-day FIDE-rated classical tournament.
The competition consists of nine Swiss-system rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one. It is designed for strong rated players: participants must either hold an active FIDE rating of at least 1800 or have reached a FIDE rating of 1800 or higher within the 36 months preceding the tournament.
The guaranteed prize fund is ₹6,01,000 (approx. $6,280). In addition to the main prizes, the tournament offers rating-category and special awards for women, senior/veteran players and Goa players.
📌 Event Details
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | The QQChess International Open 1800 and Above FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 26 – December 1, 2026 |
| 📍 Place | Quepem, Goa, India |
| 🏛️ Venue | Shree Saunsthan Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Kudtari Mahamaya – Ghudo, Avedem, Quepem, Goa 403705, India |
| 👥 Organizer | Quepem Taluka Chess Association & Queens Chess and Cultural Club |
| ♟️ Format | 9-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard rated |
| 👤 Eligibility | Active FIDE rating 1800+ or peak FIDE rating 1800+ within the previous 36 months |
| 🆔 FIDE ID | Mandatory |
| 💰 Prize Fund | ₹6,01,000 (approx. $6,280) |
| 📊 Chess-Results | https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1487030.aspx?SNode=S0&lan=19 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament consists of nine rounds under the Swiss system and is submitted for international FIDE Standard rating.
Each player receives 90 minutes for the game plus a 30-second increment from move one.
The published default time is 30 minutes. Therefore, a player arriving more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start of a round may lose the game.
The published tiebreak order is:
- Buchholz Cut 1
- Buchholz
- Sonneborn-Berger
- Direct Encounter
- Number of wins
- Number of wins with Black
Written appeals must be submitted within 15 minutes of the relevant decision. The published appeal fee is ₹2,000 (approx. $30) and is refundable if the appeal is upheld.
🏆 Prize Fund
The guaranteed total prize fund is ₹6,01,000 (approx. $6,280).
The tournament offers a deep prize structure with 40 main prizes plus additional rating and special-category awards.
| Prize Category | Award |
|---|---|
| 1st Overall | ₹1,00,000 + Trophy (approx. $1,050) |
| 2nd Overall | ₹60,000 (approx. $630) |
| 3rd Overall | ₹40,000 (approx. $420) |
| Main Prizes | Awards continue through 40th place |
| FIDE Rating 1800–2000 | ₹20,000 / ₹15,000 / ₹10,000 (approx. $210 / $160 / $110) |
| FIDE Rating 2001–2199 | ₹20,000 / ₹15,000 / ₹10,000 (approx. $210 / $160 / $110) |
| Special Categories | Additional awards for women, senior/veteran and Goa players |
Prize money is not shared. A player who qualifies for more than one award receives only the higher applicable prize under the published tournament rules.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The event is played as one 1800-and-above FIDE-rated tournament, rather than as several separate sections.
Players are eligible when they meet either of the following conditions:
- Active FIDE rating of at least 1800; or
- Peak FIDE rating of at least 1800 during the 36 months immediately preceding the tournament.
A valid FIDE ID is mandatory.
Players rated below 1800 who have not crossed 1800 during the preceding 36 months should instead check the separate QQChess International Open Below 1800 FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2026, scheduled from November 27 to 29.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| November 26 | Reporting | 11:00 AM–12:30 PM |
| November 26 | Lunch | 1:00–2:00 PM |
| November 26 | Inaugural Function | 2:00 PM |
| November 26 | Players Meeting | 2:30 PM |
| November 26 | Round 1 | 3:00 PM |
| November 27 | Round 2 | 10:00 AM |
| November 27 | Round 3 | 3:00 PM |
| November 28 | Round 4 | 10:00 AM |
| November 28 | Round 5 | 3:00 PM |
| November 29 | Round 6 | 10:00 AM |
| November 30 | Round 7 | 10:00 AM |
| November 30 | Round 8 | 3:00 PM |
| December 1 | Round 9 | 9:30 AM |
| December 1 | Prize Distribution & Closing Ceremony | 3:00 PM |
All times are local India Standard Time.
📝 Registration
Registration is available through the official QQChess website:
| Registration Category | Standard Fee | Early Bird Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Goa Players | ₹4,500 (approx. $50) | ₹4,000 (approx. $50) |
| Non-Goa Players | ₹5,000 (approx. $60) | ₹4,500 (approx. $50) |
The Early Bird discount of ₹500 applies to registrations completed on or before September 30, 2026.
The official tournament listing also publishes a ₹500 late fee for registrations after November 15.
Players holding GM, IM, WGM or WIM titles receive free entry under the published tournament conditions.
Payments are processed online through Razorpay. The organizer states that successful payments are non-refundable.
👥 Organizer
Organizer Name: Quepem Taluka Chess Association & Queens Chess and Cultural Club
Contact Person: IA Sanjay Kavlekar
Email: info@qqchess.org
Phone: +91 937 384 3024 / +91 982 325 8711
📍 Venue
Shree Saunsthan Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Kudtari Mahamaya – Ghudo, Avedem, Quepem, Goa 403705, India
The tournament is held at the temple complex in Ghudo/Avedem, Quepem.
The official QQChess information describes the tournament facilities as air-conditioned and acoustically treated. The organizers also publish anti-cheating measures and the use of electronic boards for selected games.
🏨 Accommodation
The organizers provide an official non-AC accommodation option during registration.
For the 1800-and-above tournament, the published accommodation rate is ₹3,000 per person (approx. $40) for the six-day stay. When official accommodation is selected, the organizer requires players to purchase the corresponding vegetarian meal package.
The tournament information also lists several external hotels in Margao. Organizer transport can be arranged under the published accommodation arrangements.
| Accommodation | Approximate Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Laxmi Empire | approx. $40–60/night | Margao; organizer-listed external accommodation |
| Hotel Raj Resort | approx. $30/night | Aquem Baixo, Margao; organizer-listed external accommodation |
| Cosmique Clarks Inn Suites | approx. $30–40/night | Near Madgaon Railway Station; organizer-listed external accommodation |
External hotel rates are indicative and may change for the tournament dates.
🚆 How to Get There
By air: Goa International Airport at Dabolim (GOI) is one of the principal gateways listed by the organizer. The official QQChess information also notes connectivity from Mopa International Airport.
By train: Curchorem railway station is a useful option for Quepem. Madgaon Junction, one of Goa’s major railway stations, is another organizer-listed arrival point and is particularly convenient for players using the external hotels in Margao.
From Margao: Players staying at the organizer-listed external hotels should coordinate the published tournament transport arrangements in advance.
By road: Quepem is in South Goa and can be reached by taxi, private vehicle or local road transport from Margao, Curchorem and Goa’s airports.
ℹ️ Other Information
Electronic devices, mobile phones and wrist watches are prohibited in the playing area under the published tournament regulations.
All participants receive an e-certificate.
The organizer provides vegetarian food options. Players using official accommodation must also purchase the corresponding meal package.
Prize winners are required to provide the necessary banking documentation for prize transfers.
The official QQChess website should be checked again shortly before travel for any late changes to reporting, accommodation, transport or tournament regulations:
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $6,280
Organizer
♟️ About Quepem Taluka Chess Association
Quepem Taluka Chess Association (QTCA) is an active chess organization based in Quepem, Goa, India. The association promotes competitive chess in Quepem and the surrounding region through FIDE-rated tournaments, rapid competitions, open events, and opportunities for junior and developing players.
QTCA works within the organized Indian chess structure and regularly stages competitions recognized by the Goa Chess Association and All India Chess Federation (AICF). Its events attract players from across Goa as well as participants from other Indian states and, in some cases, international competitors.
The association has developed a particularly strong reputation for tournament organization. Nilesh Cabral has served as President of Quepem Taluka Chess Association, while experienced International Arbiter Sanjay Kavlekar has played a central role in directing many of its major competitions. The association regularly works with arbiters, educational institutions, and other chess organizations to deliver officially rated events in Quepem.
🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities
Quepem Taluka Chess Association organizes both classical and rapid FIDE-rated tournaments. One of its best-established recurring competitions is the Late Shri Chandrakant Naik Memorial All India Open FIDE Rapid Rating Chess Tournament.
The memorial reached its 9th edition in 2026, with IA Sanjay Kavlekar serving as Tournament Director. The competition is held at the Government College of Arts, Commerce & Science in Quepem and attracts a substantial field of players from Goa and other parts of India.
Previous editions have grown considerably. The 2024 tournament attracted 269 players, including an International Master and competitors from outside India. The 2025 edition grew to more than 280 participants, demonstrating the event’s position as an established rapid tournament on the Goa chess calendar.
QTCA also organizes longer classical competitions. Its QTCA All India Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament has brought players to Quepem during the Christmas and New Year period. The 2024 edition featured nine rounds of classical chess and a separate blitz event.
🌍 QQChess International Open
In 2026, Quepem Taluka Chess Association joined Queens Chess and Cultural Club to organize the QQChess International Open, a new international tournament project in Goa.
The festival includes two separate FIDE-rated competitions. The QQChess International Open 1800 and Above runs from November 26 to December 1, 2026, while the Below 1800 tournament runs from November 27–29.
Together, the two tournaments offer a combined published prize fund of more than ₹12 lakh. The events are staged at venues in Quepem, including the Shree Saunsthan Shantadurga Chamundeshwari Temple Hall and the Government College of Arts, Commerce & Science.
The organizers have also created a dedicated QQChess platform covering registration, accommodation, meals, schedules, venue information, and player support. This project expands QTCA’s tournament activity from regional and national events toward larger international competitions.
🌱 Chess Development in Quepem
QTCA’s activities provide an important competitive pathway for chess players in southern Goa. Its tournaments include opportunities for experienced players, juniors, unrated competitors, and players seeking international rating experience.
The association regularly cooperates with the Government College of Arts, Commerce & Science, Quepem, which has hosted several of its major tournaments. This partnership provides a consistent venue for large FIDE-rated competitions and helps connect organized chess with the local educational community.
QTCA events also involve experienced arbiters from Goa. Recent competitions have included IA Sanjay Kavlekar, FA Tanishq Kavlekar, and FA Anushka Naik, alongside other regional arbiters. Their involvement supports the association’s ability to organize events according to national and international rating requirements.
🏅 Tournament Tradition
Quepem Taluka Chess Association has organized rated chess events for many years. Historical tournament records show QTCA organizing All India FIDE-rated competitions in Quepem well before its current tournament program.
More recently, the association has expanded both the scale and variety of its events. The Chandrakant Naik Memorial has become an annual rapid tournament, while classical FIDE competitions have brought larger multi-day events to Quepem.
The introduction of the QQChess International Open in 2026 represents another step in this development. By combining national tournament experience with a dedicated international event platform, QTCA continues to strengthen Quepem’s presence within the wider Indian chess tournament circuit.
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