♟️ About SkillCraft Chess

SkillCraft Chess is a chess tournament organization based in New Delhi, India, known for organizing competitive over-the-board events, international FIDE-rated tournaments, and youth chess festivals. Its activities bring together experienced players, developing competitors, schoolchildren, and chess enthusiasts from Delhi and other parts of India. The organization has developed a tournament program covering classical, rapid, and blitz chess. Its events include open competitions, rating-restricted tournaments, and age-category championships. Many of these competitions feature substantial prize funds, separate awards for young players, and professionally managed tournament operations. Sushant Tiwari plays a central role in SkillCraft's activities, serving as Tournament Director and Chief Organizer of major events. Through collaboration with arbiters, chess academies, registration partners, and sporting institutions, SkillCraft has established a continuing presence in the Delhi chess tournament circuit.

📜 History & Development

SkillCraft's documented tournament activity extends back to at least 2021, when the organization was associated with the SkillCraft Delhi Open Chess Tournament. The event featured seven Swiss-system rounds, a rapid time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment, and awards for different rating and age categories. The tournament program expanded during subsequent years. By 2023, the SkillCraft series included the SkillCraft–Omvati Memorial competitions, providing opportunities for both open players and younger participants. These events helped establish the SkillCraft name among chess players in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region. The organization subsequently moved into larger international rating events. From 2024 onward, its published tournament program included FIDE-rated rapid and classical competitions at major venues in New Delhi. Moreover, SkillCraft developed partnerships with other chess organizations and tournament service providers to support these increasingly ambitious events.

🏆 International FIDE-Rated Chess Tournaments

A major milestone was the 1st Pro SkillCraft Open International Rating Rapid Chess Tournament, held on July 27–28, 2024, at S K Kumar Banquet Hall in New Patparganj, Delhi. Organized in cooperation with Eminent Chess Academy, the competition advertised a total prize fund of ₹640,000. The tournament included more than 100 cash awards and additional trophies and medals for participants in different categories. It operated under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation and Delhi Chess Association. Later that year, SkillCraft was involved in the 1st SkillCraft International Open Classical FIDE Rated Chess Tournament, held from November 16–20, 2024, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The tournament offered an advertised prize fund of ₹1.4 million, with more than 100 cash prizes and a substantial program of age-category awards. These competitions expanded the organization's activities beyond short-format tournaments. They provided opportunities for players to compete in internationally rated events while gaining experience in longer games, formal tournament procedures, and competitive multi-round schedules.

🌍 International Classical Chess Series

SkillCraft continued its international tournament program through 2025, including competitions designed for players within specific FIDE rating categories. The 1st SkillCraft International Below 1800 Classical FIDE Rated Chess Tournament took place in January 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The event combined classical chess with a rating-limited format, creating opportunities for developing players to compete against opponents within a defined strength category. Later in the year, the 2nd SkillCraft International Open Classical FIDE Rated Chess Tournament was scheduled from December 25–29, 2025, at Academic Heights World School in Pitampura, Delhi. Its published regulations included nine rounds, category prizes, and awards for players of different ages and rating levels. The series continued in March 2026 with the 2nd SkillCraft International Below 1800 Classical FIDE Rated Chess Tournament. According to FIDE's official tournament record, this event took place from March 27–29 in Delhi and involved 150 players. Sushant Tiwari was listed as Chief Organizer, Vishwanath Pratap Singh as Organizer, and International Arbiter Atul Mishra as Chief Arbiter. Through these competitions, SkillCraft provides an important pathway for developing players who want to gain experience in rated classical chess.

⚡ Rapid, Blitz & Rating-Restricted Competitions

In addition to its international classical events, SkillCraft organizes shorter competitions that serve different segments of the chess community. The 6th SkillCraft Below 1900 Classical Chess Tournament took place on March 14–15, 2026, in Delhi. Its published prize fund was ₹121,000, and the competition featured seven rounds. The rating-restricted format provided an opportunity for club players and developing competitors to participate in structured competition against opponents within the specified rating limit. The SkillCraft tournament program also includes rapid and blitz events. These formats create opportunities for players who prefer shorter competitions, while age-category sections help younger participants gain experience in tournament conditions. Across its competitions, SkillCraft has used separate awards for rating groups, younger players, girls, veterans, and other special categories when specified in the regulations. Such arrangements recognize achievements across different competitive levels rather than focusing exclusively on the overall tournament winners.

🌟 7th SkillCraft Chess Fest 2026

The 7th SkillCraft Chess Fest is scheduled for November 13–15, 2026, continuing the organization's series of multi-category chess competitions. Official Chess-Results records identify five sections:

• Blitz Open — November 13, 2026
• Under-8 — November 14, 2026
• Under-12 — November 14, 2026
• Under-16 — November 14, 2026
• Below 2000 Rapid — November 15, 2026

The festival combines open competition with dedicated youth tournaments. As a result, players can select a section appropriate to their age, rating eligibility, and preferred playing format. The event's multi-section structure also creates opportunities for families and chess academies to participate in several activities across one weekend. Its age-group competitions support younger players, while the blitz and rapid sections provide additional competitive opportunities. Sushant Tiwari is identified as the creator and latest uploader of the published Chess-Results tournament records. Official tournament records: 7th SkillCraft Chess Fest 2026 — Blitz Open 7th SkillCraft Chess Fest 2026 — Under-12 7th SkillCraft Chess Fest 2026 — Below 2000 Rapid

👥 Organization, Partnerships & Chess Community

SkillCraft's tournament activities depend on cooperation between organizers, arbiters, host institutions, and registration partners. Sushant Tiwari has regularly served in leading organizational roles, while Vishwanath Raghav has also appeared in tournament regulations as an organizer, tournament director, and coordinating official. The organization has collaborated with Eminent Chess Academy on major events. Its published tournament materials have also identified ChessBase India as a media partner and CircleChess as a registration partner for selected competitions. SkillCraft's tournaments have used venues such as Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Thyagraj Sports Complex, and educational institutions in Delhi. These locations accommodate different tournament formats and provide facilities for players, officials, and accompanying families. By combining international rating events with accessible age-group competitions, SkillCraft contributes to the competitive chess environment in Delhi. Its tournaments offer opportunities for players to gain rating experience, test their skills, and participate in organized chess beyond their regular clubs and schools.