FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026

The VV BALARAM Memorial FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026 is one of the major FIDE-rated chess tournaments scheduled in Kerala during August 2026. Organized by the Rotary Club of Payyanur Midtown in association with the Chess Association Kannur, this prestigious event offers a total prize fund of ₹4,00,000, making it one of the most attractive open tournaments in South India.

The tournament welcomes FIDE-rated players, unrated players, young talents, and veteran players from across India. Conducted under the rules of FIDE, AICF, CAK, and CAK (Kannur), the tournament promises a highly competitive playing environment with excellent facilities.

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Tournament Highlights

Particular	Details
Tournament	VV BALARAM Memorial FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament
Event Code	462255/KL/2026
Tournament Type	FIDE Rated Open
Dates	28 August – 31 August 2026
Venue	Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Annur, Payyanur
District	Kannur
State	Kerala
Total Prize Fund	₹4,00,000
Organizers	Rotary Club of Payyanur Midtown & Chess Association Kannur
Approved By	FIDE, AICF, CAK & CAK

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Venue Details

Information	Details
Venue	Chinmaya Vidyalaya
Locality	Annur
Town	Payyanur
District	Kannur
State	Kerala
Country	India
Road Connectivity	Approximately 3.5 km from Payyanur Bus Stand
Railway Connectivity	Payyanur Railway Station – Approx. 6.2 km
Alternate Railway Station	Payangadi Railway Station – Approx. 16 km

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Main Prize List

Rank	Prize
1st	₹50,000
2nd	₹30,000
3rd	₹20,000
4th	₹15,000
5th	₹10,000
6th	₹8,000
7th	₹7,000
8th	₹6,000
9th	₹5,000
10th	₹5,000
11th–15th	₹4,000 each
16th–20th	₹3,000 each
21st–30th	₹2,500 each

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Category Prize Details

Rating Category (1601–1800)

Position	Prize
1st	₹10,000
2nd	₹7,000
3rd	₹5,000
4th	₹3,000
5th & 6th	₹3,000
7th & 8th	₹2,500

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Rating Category (0–1600)

Position	Prize
1st	₹10,000
2nd	₹7,000
3rd	₹5,000
4th	₹3,000
5th & 6th	₹3,000
7th & 8th	₹2,500

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Unrated Players

Position	Prize
1st	₹8,000
2nd	₹5,000
3rd	₹3,000
4th	₹2,500
5th	₹2,500

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Under-15 Category

Position	Prize
1st	₹8,000
2nd	₹5,000
3rd	₹3,000
4th	₹2,500
5th	₹2,500
6th–8th	₹2,000

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Under-10 Category

Position	Prize
1st	₹5,000
2nd	₹4,000
3rd	₹3,000
4th	₹2,500
5th & 6th	Medal
7th & 8th	Medal

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Special Category Prizes

Category	Prize
Veteran (Age 60+) Champion	₹5,000
Veteran Runner-up	₹4,000
Veteran 3rd	₹3,000
Veteran 4th	₹2,500
Women Champion	₹5,000
Women Runner-up	₹3,000
Women 3rd	₹2,500
Women 4th	Medal
Kannur District Champion	₹5,000
Kannur Runner-up	₹4,000
Kannur 3rd	₹3,000
Kannur 4th	₹2,500
Best Kozhikode Player	₹4,000
Best Kasaragod Player	₹4,000
Best Wayanad Player	₹4,000
Medal	All U10 & Women Participants

Top two players in every category receive trophies (minimum participation conditions apply).

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Tournament Schedule

Date	Time	Round
28 Aug 2026	09:00 AM	Inauguration
28 Aug 2026	09:30 AM	Players Meeting
28 Aug 2026	10:00 AM	Round 1
28 Aug 2026	03:00 PM	Round 2
29 Aug 2026	09:00 AM	Round 3
29 Aug 2026	02:00 PM	Round 4
30 Aug 2026	09:00 AM	Round 5
30 Aug 2026	02:00 PM	Round 6
31 Aug 2026	08:30 AM	Round 7
31 Aug 2026	01:30 PM	Round 8

Time Control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

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Entry Fee

Category	Fee
GM, WGM, IM & WIM	Free
Entry before 15 Aug 2026	₹2,000
Late Entry (till 23 Aug 2026)	₹2,500

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Accommodation

• Dormitory accommodation available.
• First 70 players can avail accommodation.
• Bed and pillow provided.
• Accommodation available on first-come, first-served basis.

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Chief Arbiter

IA Jismon Mathew

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Contact Information

Tournament Enquiry

Language	Contact
Malayalam	Sugnesh Babu – 9496 142 366
Malayalam	Eswaran – 9495 515 411
Tamil	Haris N K – 8921 225 749
Kannada	Manojan Ravi – 6238 517 833
English & Hindi	Manoharan V P – 9446 545 184
Accommodation	Rajeevan P V – 8281 560 868

Technical Support:

• 9074365503
• 7907780366

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Nearby Tourist Attractions

Visitors can also explore several famous destinations around Payyanur:

• Bekal Fort
• Madayipara
• Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple
• Kavvayi Island
• Thalassery Kadalpalam
• Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach
• Rajarajeshwara Temple
• Kavvayi Backwaters
• Thalassery Fort
• Dharmadam Thuruth
• Arakkal Museum
• Mayyazhi (Mahe)

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Why You Should Participate

The VV BALARAM Memorial FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament offers players an outstanding opportunity to compete against strong opponents while earning valuable FIDE rating points. With an impressive ₹4 lakh prize fund, professionally organized playing conditions, experienced arbiters, and excellent hospitality, this tournament is expected to attract participants from across India. Whether you are a seasoned FIDE-rated player, an ambitious junior, or an enthusiastic amateur, this event provides the perfect platform to showcase your chess skills in one of Kerala’s most prestigious chess competitions.