The 3rd Rotaract RUAS × Children Chess Academy All India Open FIDE Rated Classical Chess Tournament 2026 takes place in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from December 23 to 27, 2026. Players gather at Dwaraka Auditorium on the Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences’ Gnanagangothri Campus, a university and medical education district near New BEL Road in Mathikere.

Jointly organized by Children Chess Academy and Rotaract Club of RUAS, the event features nine Swiss-system classical rounds with 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Its advertised ₹600,000 prize fund (approximately $6,380) includes open, rating-based and special awards, together with separate junior recognition.

Competitors can plan around the confirmed five-day schedule, with two rounds on each of the first four days. This guide covers the published entry rules, cash prizes, the organizer, the correct campus entrance, five individual hotel booking options, places to eat and useful transport advice.

📌 Event Details

The classical open is part of the organizers’ four-tournament Rotaract RUAS program. It is separate from the below-1800 classical competition scheduled for December 28–30 at the same university venue; those events have different entry arrangements and player eligibility rules.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

This is a nine-round, FIDE Standard-rated Swiss competition, not a rapid tournament. Each player receives 90 minutes for the game and 30 seconds added per move from move one. A slow time control means that a game may continue for several hours, particularly when players reach a long endgame.

Swiss-system pairings ordinarily group competitors according to their scores from previous rounds. Swiss-Manager is used for the tournament administration, and the official Chess-Results listing carries starting lists, game times and later results. Players should review their recorded names and ratings before the event, especially if they recently registered with AICF.

The schedule places two classical rounds on each of the first four days, followed by a final morning round and prize distribution on December 27. Competitors should choose accommodation that allows dependable morning arrival and room for long playing sessions.

🏆 Prize Fund

The published cash prize pool is ₹600,000 (approximately $6,380), including ₹382,500 allocated to overall placements, ₹182,500 to rating prizes and ₹35,000 to special cash awards. Dollar amounts are approximate references using the November 8, 2026 exchange rate of about ₹94.1 per US dollar; prizes are denominated in Indian rupees.

The overall prize distribution extends across the top 93 places, with ₹51,000, ₹30,000 and ₹20,000 plus trophies advertised for first, second and third respectively. In addition, the five rating-prize categories contain 20 awards each. The complete detailed payout table should be confirmed against the organizer’s prize announcement before claiming a particular placing award.

Junior players can also receive trophies and medals in the announced age categories. When a competitor qualifies for more than one cash award, the published terms state that only the higher prize is payable. Furthermore, the prize-winner’s attendance at the final award ceremony is required.

👥 Sections / Groups

The open classical event welcomes players outside the published rating-prize bands; those bands are additional award categories rather than separate nine-round tournaments. Junior categories likewise provide recognition, but the sources do not establish that each junior band has its own independent Swiss pairing list.

Every participant requires valid AICF registration. Players based in Karnataka also require the applicable KSCA registration. Competitors should check the relevant requirements and provide accurate federation information before submitting entry fees.

📅 Schedule

All starting times below are in India Standard Time (IST). Play begins after the inauguration on Wednesday, December 23, while the following three days feature a morning and afternoon round. Sunday, December 27, is reserved for the final round and presentation of prizes.

The 3:00 PM award ceremony on December 27 matters to prize winners because the regulations require their presence. If you are traveling out of Bengaluru on the final day, leave enough time after the ceremony and for transfer traffic rather than assuming that the final game ends at a fixed hour.

📝 Registration

The organizer lists this exact competition on its Chessmii tournament entry page. The published regular fee is ₹3,000, and registration closes on December 20, 2026. An earlier ₹2,699 rate applied through October 30; it is no longer the current offer. Spot entry is not allowed, and the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Titled GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs are offered free entry, without complimentary accommodation or meals. AICF membership is compulsory for every competitor, with KSCA membership also required for Karnataka-based players. Review the organizer’s registration and payment instructions before making an irreversible payment.

Questions about eligibility, payment or tournament arrangements may be directed to International Arbiter Vasanth B. H. at +91 94486 22388 or the academy’s +91 86608 08138 number. This external entry option is present only in the main article; MyChess.Events’ existing right-sidebar registration pathway is not redirected.

🏛️ Organizer

Children Chess Academy – Bengaluru collaborates with the Rotaract Club of Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences to arrange competitions for juniors, developing players and experienced over-the-board competitors. The academy’s existing MyChess.Events profile documents its FIDE-rated tournament activity and education-focused approach.

The 2026 partnership comprises a series of four events, including earlier rapid tournaments and the two December classical competitions. The series advertises a combined ₹19 lakh in prize money; this third classical event specifically advertises ₹6 lakh. Each competition must be entered separately, despite sharing organizers and a university venue.

Chess-Results identifies Children Chess Academy, Bangalore, as the organizer and IA Vasanth B. H. as Chief Arbiter. Rotaract RUAS is the co-organizer, supported by university-linked and Rotary partners. Inquiries about pairings, eligibility and the playing rules should be directed to the tournament’s own contacts rather than the university’s general reception.

The broader series makes it possible to choose between faster games and long classical events, while its different rating and junior prizes create additional competitive opportunities. Players considering the fourth below-1800 tournament after this one must check the separate rating restriction and registration details.

📍 Venue

Play takes place in Dwaraka Auditorium, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), Gnanagangothri Campus, New BEL Road, M. S. Ramaiah Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560054, India. The university’s official campus directory confirms the Gnanagangothri site on New BEL Road and identifies a multi-building educational and medical complex. Dwaraka Auditorium is part of that site rather than an independent hotel or a separate chess club.

A public auditorium listing gives the location code 2HHC+G44 for navigation. When arranging a taxi or parking, use both the name Dwaraka Auditorium and the complete campus address. The university also operates a Peenya Technology Campus; that is not the tournament venue.

For additional facilities and campus orientation, consult the university’s Gnanagangothri Campus information. The campus provides amenities such as ATMs, refreshments and parking, but university student hostels should not be assumed available to visiting chess players.

🏨 Accommodation

Boarding and lodging are not included with tournament registration. Visiting players and families can instead compare hotels around MSR College Road, Mathikere, New BEL Road and the Yeshwanthpur district. The first choices emphasize the Ramaiah campus neighborhood, while the final option offers more extensive hotel amenities.

All five individual hotel links are prepared for December 22–28, 2026 — arrival the day before the first round and departure after the awards. Travelers can adjust dates and occupancy during booking. Actual room availability, breakfast, taxes, extra-bed rules and cancellation conditions must be checked for each property.

HOTEL NEST Inn and MALDIVES INN are both close to the Ramaiah college area, but the last walk to the auditorium depends on the permitted campus entrance. The Urban Nest and Treebo Galaxy Suites are additional Mathikere options. Gokulam Grand has more full-service facilities, but visitors should arrange a transfer rather than assuming it is immediately beside the playing hall.

There is no confirmed chess group rate for these properties. Families with junior competitors should compare room occupancy and breakfast times, particularly because several rounds start at 9:30 AM.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

The Mathikere–New BEL Road neighborhood offers several casual dining options suitable for a tournament visit. The selection below includes budget-friendly Indian meals, Kerala-style cuisine, vegetarian café food and quick snacks. These are neighborhood addresses, not facilities inside the tournament auditorium.

For a substantial lunch, Durga Mess and Thalassery Restaurant serve different styles of Indian food. Akshaya Spice and Veggie Corner offer additional casual options, while Shahi Darbar Rolls Center is useful for a quicker bite. Check opening hours on each competition date and leave enough time to return before the next round.

🚆 How to Get There

Dwaraka Auditorium is situated in Mathikere / M. S. Ramaiah Nagar, in northern Bengaluru near New BEL Road. Travelers arriving by train, air or intercity coach should aim for this specific university campus and then check the correct building entrance; entering only the university name may lead to the separate Peenya site.

Traffic delays are common in large metropolitan areas, so arriving in Bengaluru the previous evening may be useful for the December 23 opening. Those traveling with younger players or luggage should consider a direct road transfer for the last stretch and confirm any campus gate instructions with the organizer.

ℹ️ Other Information

Federation registration. This competition carries FIDE Event ID 494566. AICF registration is compulsory for all players, and Karnataka-based entrants also need KSCA registration. Check your rating and federation information in the official starting list.

Appeals. The tournament rules require written protests within 10 minutes of the relevant decision, with a ₹1,000 fee submitted to the five-member Appeals Committee. The fee is returned if the appeal is upheld.

Electronic devices and belongings. Bags, mobile phones, wristwatches and other electronic devices are prohibited inside the playing arena under the published terms. Make arrangements for personal belongings before entering and follow arbiters’ instructions.

Chess equipment and certificates. The organizers supply chess sets and digital clocks. An electronic participation certificate is advertised; ask the organizing team how and when certificates will be distributed.

Prize collection. Only the higher cash prize is awarded when a player qualifies for multiple categories. Prize recipients must attend the December 27, 3:00 PM distribution to collect awards; absent winners can forfeit prizes under the rules.

December holiday logistics. Games are scheduled across December 24–27. Confirm actual restaurant and hotel services for your dates, reserve a room that allows morning arrivals, and avoid booking early departure if you may receive a prize.

The Children Chess Academy website offers additional background on the organizer. Current tournament pairings and results are linked under Event Details, while the entry platform is linked under Registration.