1st Akshaya International Grandmaster Open Chess Tournament 2027
The 1st Akshaya International Grandmaster Open Chess Tournament 2027 will take place in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, from January 11–18, 2027. The festival combines four separate FIDE-rated tournaments designed for different rating levels and formats.
The programme begins with the main Category A Grandmaster Open for players rated 2000 and above and a separate Category B Below 2000 tournament. A FIDE-rated open Blitz follows on January 14, while the Category D Below 1700 tournament completes the supporting programme.
An important logistical feature of the festival is that it uses two playing venues. Category A is held at M Inn Hotels in central Coimbatore, while Categories B, C and D are played at Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology in Kinathukadavu.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Festival Dates | January 11–18, 2027 |
| 🌍 Country | India |
| 📍 Location | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| 👤 Organizer | Miracle School of Chess / Coimbatore District Chess Association |
| 🎯 Tournament Director | K. Dhinesh Babu |
| 👥 Sections | Category A 2000+ · Category B Below 2000 · Category C Blitz · Category D Below 1700 |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated |
| 🏛️ Category A Venue | M Inn Hotels – 257 Mettupalayam Road, Opp. Saibaba Kovil, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641043, India |
| 🏛️ Categories B/C/D Venue | Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology – Bhagavathipalayam Road, Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 642109, India |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category A | https://chess-results.com/tnr1473655.aspx?lan=1 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category B | https://chess-results.com/tnr1473656.aspx?lan=1 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category C | https://chess-results.com/tnr1473657.aspx?lan=1 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category D | https://chess-results.com/tnr1473658.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Each competition has its own rating limit and playing format.
| Section | Format |
|---|---|
| Category A – 2000+ | 10-round Swiss · 90+30 |
| Category B – Below 2000 | FIDE-rated Swiss · 60+30 |
| Category C – Blitz Open | 9-round Swiss · 3+2 |
| Category D – Below 1700 | 9-round Swiss · 60+30 |
All four competitions are registered with FIDE.
Category A has FIDE Event ID 482202, Category B 482207, Category C 482298, and Category D 482208.
🏆 Prize Fund
The festival publishes substantial separate prize structures for its four tournaments rather than one shared standings table.
Category A – ₹20,00,000
The main Grandmaster Open offers ₹20 lakh, approximately $20,750, with 68 cash prizes.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹3,50,000 |
| 2nd | ₹2,00,000 |
| 3rd | ₹1,50,000 |
| 4th | ₹1,00,000 |
| 5th | ₹70,000 |
| 6th | ₹60,000 |
| 7th | ₹50,000 |
| 8th | ₹35,000 |
| 9th | ₹30,000 |
| 10th | ₹25,000 |
| 11th–20th | ₹20,000 each |
| 21st–25th | ₹15,000 each |
| 26th–35th | ₹12,000 each |
| 36th–45th | ₹10,000 each |
Additional rating prizes are offered in the 2000–2099, 2100–2199 and 2200–2299 bands, with ₹30,000 / ₹20,000 / ₹15,000 / ₹10,000 for the top four in each band.
The brochure also lists special awards including ₹15,000 for the Best Female Player and substantial prizes for leading Coimbatore players.
Category B – ₹11,00,000 + Special Prizes
Category B offers a published prize fund of ₹11 lakh, approximately $11,410, together with:
- 1 car
- 4 e-scooters
- 50 chess clocks
Main prizes include:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | New Car + Trophy |
| 2nd | ₹70,000 |
| 3rd | ₹50,000 |
| 4th | ₹30,000 |
| 5th | ₹20,000 |
| 6th | ₹15,000 |
| 7th | ₹12,000 |
| 8th | ₹10,000 |
| 9th | ₹10,000 |
| 10th | ₹9,500 |
| 11th–15th | ₹7,000 each |
| 16th–20th | ₹6,500 each |
| 21st–30th | ₹6,000 each |
| 31st–48th | ₹5,500 each |
Further awards are provided for rating groups, women, veterans, age categories and Coimbatore players.
Category C Blitz – ₹3,00,000 + Special Prizes
The Blitz carries a ₹3 lakh prize fund, approximately $3,120, together with 5 e-scooters and 50 chess clocks.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹40,000 |
| 2nd | ₹25,000 |
| 3rd | ₹15,000 |
| 4th | ₹10,000 |
| 5th | ₹8,000 |
| 6th | ₹7,000 |
| 7th | ₹6,500 |
| 8th | ₹5,500 |
| 9th | ₹4,500 |
| 10th | ₹4,000 |
| 11th–20th | ₹3,000 each |
| 21st–30th | ₹2,000 each |
Additional rating, age-category and Coimbatore awards are also published.
Category D – Cash & Special Prizes
Category D publishes 115 cash prizes together with:
- 1 car
- 5 e-scooters
- 50 chess clocks
The main prize ladder begins:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | New Car + Trophy |
| 2nd | ₹70,000 |
| 3rd | ₹50,000 |
| 4th | ₹30,000 |
| 5th | ₹20,000 |
| 6th | ₹15,000 |
| 7th | ₹12,000 |
| 8th | ₹10,000 |
| 9th | ₹10,000 |
| 10th | ₹9,500 |
| 11th–15th | ₹7,000 each |
| 16th–20th | ₹6,500 each |
| 21st–30th | ₹6,000 each |
| 31st–48th | ₹5,500 each |
The tournament also includes rating-category, women, veteran, youth and local-player awards.
Cash prizes are not shared.
👥 Sections / Groups
Category A – Grandmaster Open 2000+
Dates: January 11–18
Venue: M Inn Hotels
Rounds: 10
Time Control: 90+30
FIDE Event ID: 482202
Prize Fund: ₹20,00,000
The main section is intended for players with a minimum FIDE Standard rating of 2000 according to the January rating list.
The organizer reserves the right to consider a limited number of lower-rated players.
Category B – Below 2000
Dates: January 11–14
Venue: Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology
Time Control: 60+30
FIDE Event ID: 482207
Prize Fund: ₹11,00,000 plus special prizes
This tournament is designed for players below the published 2000 rating ceiling.
Category C – Blitz Open
Date: January 14
Venue: Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology
Rounds: 9
Time Control: 3+2
FIDE Event ID: 482298
Prize Fund: ₹3,00,000 plus special prizes
The Blitz is open to all players, independently of the classical rating limits.
Category D – Below 1700
Dates: January 15–17
Venue: Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology
Rounds: 9
Time Control: 60+30
FIDE Event ID: 482208
Category D is restricted to players satisfying the published Below 1700 rating condition.
📅 Schedule
Category A – Grandmaster Open
| Date | Program |
|---|---|
| January 11 | 08:30 – Arrival |
| 15:00 – Inauguration | |
| 15:30 – Technical Meeting | |
| 16:00 – Round 1 | |
| January 12 | 10:00 – Round 2 |
| 16:00 – Round 3 | |
| January 13 | 10:00 – Round 4 |
| January 14 | 09:30 – Round 5 |
| January 15 | 10:00 – Round 6 |
| January 16 | 10:00 – Round 7 |
| 16:00 – Round 8 | |
| January 17 | 10:00 – Round 9 |
| January 18 | 10:00 – Round 10 |
| 15:30 – Prize Distribution | |
| 17:00 – Departure |
Category B – Below 2000
Category B runs from January 11–14 at Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology.
The organizer publishes its own multi-round timetable for this section. Players should use the current Category B brochure and Chess-Results page for the final reporting and round times.
Category C – Blitz
The Blitz is played entirely on January 14.
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 14:30 | Arrival |
| 15:00 | Inauguration |
| 15:30 | Round 1 |
| 16:00 | Round 2 |
| 16:25 | Round 3 |
| 16:50 | Round 4 |
| 17:15 | Round 5 |
| 17:40 | Round 6 |
| 18:05 | Round 7 |
| 18:30 | Round 8 |
| 18:55 | Round 9 |
| 19:30 | Prize Distribution |
Category D – Below 1700
The event-specific brochure and Chess-Results programme Category D from January 15–17, with nine rounds and prize distribution on the final evening.
Players should confirm the complete round timetable in the current organizer communication before arranging same-day return travel.
📝 Registration
Entry Fees
| Section | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Category A – GM / IM / WGM / WIM / players rated above 2400 | Free |
| Category A – FM title holder | ₹9,000 |
| Category A – Other eligible players | ₹10,000 |
| Category B – Below 2000 | ₹5,500 |
| Category C – Blitz | ₹4,500 |
| Category D – Below 1700 | ₹5,500 |
Current Chess-Results notices for Categories B and D advertise free boarding and lodging for players registering under the Early Bird offer before October 10, 2026.
Players should confirm that the offer remains available before payment.
Indian Player Registration
For Indian participants, AICF Player Registration is compulsory. The published 2026–27 AICF registration fee is ₹300.
Tamil Nadu players must also complete Tamil Nadu State Chess Association registration, with the published 2026–27 fee of ₹150.
For players belonging to Coimbatore district, Coimbatore District Chess Association registration is compulsory, with a 2026–27 fee of ₹75.
Players should complete the applicable federation and district registrations before tournament entry.
Foreign Players
Foreign participants must hold a valid FIDE Identification Number.
The organizer provides visa-support coordination through the All India Chess Federation for foreign players requiring an invitation letter or visa assistance.
Foreign-player enquiries may also be directed to the organizing team before flights are booked.
👤 Organizer
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizer Name | Miracle School of Chess / Coimbatore District Chess Association |
| Tournament Director | K. Dhinesh Babu |
| miracleerode@gmail.com | |
| Phone | +91 99948 60910 |
| Additional Phone | +91 63697 57515 |
Foreign Players Coordinator / Organising Secretary: FA FI K. Dhanasekar – +91 99448 98753.
📍 Venue
The festival uses two separate playing venues.
Category A
M Inn Hotels – 257 Mettupalayam Road, Opp. Saibaba Kovil, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641043, India.
M Inn is in central Coimbatore on Mettupalayam Road and serves as both the playing venue and a convenient accommodation option for Category A participants.
Categories B, C & D
Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology – Bhagavathipalayam Road, Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 642109, India.
The college campus hosts the Below 2000, Blitz and Below 1700 tournaments.
Players entering the Category A tournament and the January 14 Blitz should note that the two competitions are not played at the same venue and should allow sufficient transfer time between M Inn and Kinathukadavu.
🏨 Accommodation
Category A
Category A is played at M Inn Hotels, allowing players who stay at the venue to avoid daily transfers.
Players should contact the hotel or tournament organizer for room availability and any tournament-specific booking conditions.
Categories B, C & D
The organizer advertises free unfinished dormitory-type accommodation for qualifying players under the relevant promotional registration offers.
Players using this accommodation must bring their own bedding and personal essentials.
The Chess-Results pages also provide organizer links for accommodation and food arrangements for parents or guardians.
Because the accommodation benefit depends on the registration offer and category, players should obtain written confirmation from the organizer before relying on free lodging.
✈️ How to Get There
By Air
Coimbatore International Airport (CJB) is the principal airport for the festival.
The airport provides a prepaid taxi service. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation services also connect the airport area with Gandhipuram, one of Coimbatore’s principal transport hubs.
Airport to Category A – M Inn Hotels
M Inn is in the central Coimbatore / Saibaba Colony area.
A prepaid taxi or app-based car from the airport is the simplest direct option. Players using public transport can travel toward Gandhipuram and complete the final journey by taxi or auto-rickshaw.
Airport to Categories B/C/D – Akshaya College
Akshaya College is in Kinathukadavu, outside central Coimbatore.
For international players or families travelling with luggage, a direct taxi or pre-arranged organizer transfer is the most practical option from the airport.
Players should not travel first to M Inn unless they specifically need the Category A venue, since Categories B, C and D are played at the college campus.
By Train
Coimbatore Junction is the city’s main railway station and provides extensive rail connections across Tamil Nadu and the rest of India.
For Category A, the station is relatively convenient for reaching central Coimbatore by taxi or auto-rickshaw.
For Categories B, C and D, a direct road transfer from Coimbatore Junction to the Kinathukadavu campus is simpler than travelling first to the Category A hotel.
Players Combining Category A & Blitz
Category A Round 5 is scheduled for 09:30 on January 14 at M Inn, while the Category C Blitz programme begins later that day at Akshaya College.
Anyone intending to play both should plan the venue transfer in advance and confirm their Blitz reporting requirements with the organizer.
ℹ️ Other Information
Separate Venues: Category A and Categories B/C/D are not played in the same building.
Fair Play: FIDE Fair Play regulations apply throughout the festival.
Cash Prizes: Published cash prizes are not shared.
Vehicle Prizes: Winners of cars or other vehicles are responsible for registration, road tax, insurance and other statutory charges.
Minor Winners: If a vehicle winner is under 18, the vehicle will be registered in the name of a parent or legal guardian according to applicable law.
E-Scooters / Chess Clocks: Delivery or courier arrangements for non-cash prizes are the responsibility of the winner where required.
Prize Collection: Prize winners must follow the organizer’s identification and prize-distribution requirements and should plan to attend the relevant ceremony.
Category A Draw Rule: The published technical regulations restrict agreed draws before move 30 without the arbiter’s consent.
Free Dormitory Accommodation: Players receiving the B/C/D accommodation benefit should bring their own bedding and personal essentials.
Visa Assistance: Foreign players with a valid FIDE ID may request invitation-letter and visa support through the organizer and the All India Chess Federation.
Category A Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1473655.aspx?lan=1
Category B Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1473656.aspx?lan=1
Category C Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1473657.aspx?lan=1
Category D Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1473658.aspx?lan=1
Additional Details
Organizer
♟️ About Miracle School of Chess
Miracle School of Chess is a chess training academy and tournament organizer active in Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu, India. The organization combines chess coaching with the management of district, state-level, national, and FIDE-rated tournaments for children and adults.
K. Dhinesh Babu is the principal public contact associated with Miracle School of Chess. He regularly serves as Tournament Director and organizer for the academy’s events and is listed by the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association as the official contact for multiple rated tournaments. The organization works within the established Indian chess structure through events approved by the All India Chess Federation (AICF), Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA), and Coimbatore District Chess Association (CDCA).
Miracle School of Chess currently operates from the Kongu Nagar / Kallimadai area of Coimbatore. In addition to regular coaching and training activities, the academy organizes tournaments at several venues across Coimbatore, including Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology, Hotel M Inn, and local tournament halls.
🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities
Tournament organization forms a major part of Miracle School of Chess’s activity. Its calendar includes classical, Rapid, Blitz, junior, rating-restricted, and open competitions.
The academy has developed a recurring partnership with Akshaya Institutions for major rated events in Coimbatore. In January 2026, it organized the Akshaya Institutions 3rd International Pongal Open FIDE Rated Chess Tournament, followed by the Akshaya Institutions 4th International FIDE Rated Below 1800 Chess Tournament in February.
Miracle School of Chess has also organized dedicated International Chess Day programs. In July 2026, its schedule included an International Chess Day Juniors Chess Festival followed by an International FIDE Rapid Rating Open Chess Tournament. Both events were officially listed by the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association with K. Dhinesh Babu as the principal contact.
Alongside major tournaments, the academy runs smaller training competitions and closed-circuit events. These give developing players opportunities to compete under longer time controls against opponents within specific rating ranges. Such events complement the larger FIDE-rated tournaments and provide regular practical competition for local players.
The organization also conducts state-level children’s tournaments in Coimbatore. These events commonly include multiple age categories, Open sections, trophies, cash awards, and special prizes for young players.
🌱 Chess Training & Player Development
Chess education remains an important part of Miracle School of Chess’s work. The academy provides structured coaching for children and competitive players and has maintained both in-person and online training activities.
Its public channels contain instructional material, tournament coverage, and chess-training content. The academy has also used online platforms for student competitions and training sessions, allowing players to remain active outside traditional over-the-board events.
Junior players feature prominently in the organization’s tournament program. Miracle School of Chess regularly offers age-group categories such as U7, U8, U10, U11, U13, and U15. Many events combine these categories within a larger Open tournament while maintaining separate awards for children.
This approach gives young players experience against a broader field while still providing age-specific recognition. At the same time, stronger juniors can enter FIDE-rated events and rating-restricted competitions to develop their international rating.
🌍 Akshaya International Grandmaster Open 2027
The most ambitious current project connected with Miracle School of Chess is the 1st Akshaya International Grandmaster Open Chess Tournament 2027, scheduled in Coimbatore from January 11–18, 2027.
The festival is organized by Miracle School of Chess together with the Coimbatore District Chess Association and includes four separate competitions.
Category A is the main Grandmaster Open for players rated 2000 and above. It consists of ten FIDE-rated classical rounds at 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move and carries an advertised cash prize fund of ₹2,000,000.
Category B is for players rated below 2000, while Category D is restricted to players below 1700. A separate Category C Blitz Open is also scheduled during the festival. The supporting events provide additional prizes, rating-category awards, vehicles, chess equipment, and early-registration accommodation benefits under the published tournament conditions.
K. Dhinesh Babu serves as Tournament Director. The organizing team also includes FA K. Dhanasekar as Foreign Players Coordinator and Organising Secretary, while IA R. Anantharam is listed as Tournament Coordinator.
The main Category A competition is held at Hotel M Inn in Coimbatore, while supporting categories use Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology. This multi-section structure represents a significant expansion from the earlier Akshaya Institutions rated tournaments.
📚 Tournament Development
Public tournament records show Miracle School of Chess organizing chess events in Tamil Nadu for many years. Earlier activities were associated with Erode, while more recent tournament operations are strongly centered on Coimbatore.
The academy now organizes events at several competitive levels. Local junior tournaments provide entry-level experience, district and state competitions support regular player development, and FIDE-rated classical, Rapid, and Blitz tournaments give participants opportunities to build international ratings.
Its cooperation with Akshaya Institutions has also developed from individual Pongal and rating-restricted tournaments into the much larger Akshaya International Grandmaster Open project.
Through these activities, Miracle School of Chess combines coaching with practical tournament experience. The organization’s recurring events provide a competition pathway for juniors, club players, rated adults, and titled players within the wider Tamil Nadu chess system.
Hotels Near the Venue
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