Playu Below 1800 International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026 – Chennai
♟️ Playu Below 1800 International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026 – Chennai
Chess players in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu can look forward to the Playu Below 1800 International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026, scheduled from 2 October to 4 October 2026 at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Stadium, Raja Muthiah Road, Periamet, Chennai – 600003.
The tournament offers a ₹4,00,000 total cash prize pool, with 110 cash prizes and 123 trophies. The event is open to eligible players under the tournament’s Below-1800 rating restrictions and features Open, Unrated, Women, Veteran and multiple rating-category prizes.
🏆 Tournament Information
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Playu – Below 1800 International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament |
| Dates | 2nd October – 4th October 2026 |
| Venue | Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Stadium |
| Address | Raja Muthiah Road, Periamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600003 |
| AICF Event Code | 471846/TN/2026 |
| TNSCA Event Code | RR-05/CHE/26-27 |
| CDCA Event Code | CDCA-OCT-001 |
| Total Prize Money | ₹4,00,000 |
| Cash Prizes | 110 |
| Trophies | 123 |
| Rounds | 9 |
| System | FIDE Swiss System |
| Time Control | 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from Move 1 |
| Entry Fee | ₹2,000 |
| Registration Deadline | 29 September 2026 |
| Reporting Time | 9:00 AM, 2 October 2026 |
| First Round | 9:30 AM, 2 October 2026 |
| Chess Equipment | International chess set will be provided for players |
| Certificate | Print and e-Certificate for all participants |
💰 Open Category Prize Money
The main Open category has prizes for the top 30 players.
| Rank | Prize Money (₹) | Rank | Prize Money (₹) | Rank | Prize Money (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30,000 | 11 | 4,000 | 21 | 2,500 |
| 2 | 25,000 | 12 | 4,000 | 22 | 2,500 |
| 3 | 20,000 | 13 | 4,000 | 23 | 2,500 |
| 4 | 15,000 | 14 | 4,000 | 24 | 2,500 |
| 5 | 10,000 | 15 | 4,000 | 25 | 2,500 |
| 6 | 7,500 | 16 | 3,000 | 26 | 2,000 |
| 7 | 6,000 | 17 | 3,000 | 27 | 2,000 |
| 8 | 6,000 | 18 | 3,000 | 28 | 2,000 |
| 9 | 6,000 | 19 | 3,000 | 29 | 2,000 |
| 10 | 6,000 | 20 | 3,000 | 30 | 2,000 |
♟️ Rating Category Prizes
Special prizes are available for players in the 1601–1700, 1501–1600 and 1401–1500 rating categories.
| Position | 1601–1700 | 1501–1600 | 1401–1500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ₹7,500 | ₹7,500 | ₹7,500 |
| 2nd | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
| 3rd | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| 4th | ₹4,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹4,000 |
| 5th | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 |
| 6th | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| 7th | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 8th | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 9th | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 10th | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 11th | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
| 12th | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
| 13th | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
| 14th | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
| 15th | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
🏅 Unrated Player Prizes
Unrated players also have a dedicated prize category.
| Position | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹7,500 |
| 2nd | ₹6,000 |
| 3rd | ₹5,000 |
| 4th | ₹4,000 |
| 5th | ₹3,000 |
| 6th | ₹2,500 |
| 7th | ₹2,000 |
| 8th | ₹2,000 |
| 9th | ₹2,000 |
| 10th | ₹2,000 |
| 11th | ₹1,500 |
| 12th | ₹1,500 |
| 13th | ₹1,500 |
| 14th | ₹1,500 |
| 15th | ₹1,500 |
👩 Women & Veteran Prize Categories
The tournament also provides separate cash prizes for Women and Veteran players.
| Position | Women | Veteran |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ₹7,500 | ₹7,500 |
| 2nd | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| 3rd | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 |
| 4th | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 5th | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
👦👧 Age Categories & Trophies
Junior players can compete for trophies in separate Boys and Girls categories.
| Age Category | Boys Trophies | Girls Trophies |
|---|---|---|
| Under 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Under 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Under 11 | 10 | 10 |
| Under 13 | 10 | 10 |
| Under 15 | 10 | 10 |
| Under 17 | 10 | 10 |
This provides junior chess players with opportunities for recognition across six different age groups, from Under-7 through Under-17.
📅 Round Schedule
The tournament consists of 9 rounds over three days.
| Round | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 2 October 2026 | 9:30 AM |
| Round 2 | 2 October 2026 | 12:30 PM |
| Round 3 | 2 October 2026 | 3:30 PM |
| Round 4 | 3 October 2026 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 5 | 3 October 2026 | 12:00 PM |
| Round 6 | 3 October 2026 | 3:00 PM |
| Round 7 | 4 October 2026 | 8:30 AM |
| Round 8 | 4 October 2026 | 11:30 AM |
| Round 9 | 4 October 2026 | 2:30 PM |
| Prize Distribution | 4 October 2026 | 6:00 PM |
📍 Venue Details
Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Stadium
Raja Muthiah Road,
Periamet, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu – 600003
The venue is located in the Periamet area of Chennai and will host all tournament rounds and the prize distribution ceremony.
💳 Registration Details
| Registration Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee | ₹2,000 |
| Last Date | 29 September 2026 |
| Registration Opens | Register Now |
| Registration Platforms | BookMyFee, EasyPayChess, ChessEntry, ChessFee, SignInChess |
Players should complete registration before the stated deadline to participate in the tournament.
📞 Contact Details
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| Tournament Enquiries | +91 98845 92472 |
| Contact Person | Shiraj |
| Registration Platforms | BookMyFee, EasyPayChess, ChessEntry, ChessFee, SignInChess |
📜 Important Tournament Rules
The tournament will follow the FIDE Laws of Chess and FIDE Swiss System with nine rounds.
Key rules include:
- Time control: 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from Move 1.
- Default time is 15 minutes from the start of the game.
- Players cannot agree to a draw before Black’s 30th move.
- Wrist watches are restricted during FIDE-rated games.
- AICF registration/renewal for 2026–27 is mandatory for Indian players.
- TNSCA registration/renewal is mandatory for Tamil Nadu players.
- CDCA registration/renewal is mandatory for Chennai District players.
- Protests must be submitted in writing with a ₹1,000 protest fee within 15 minutes of the incident.
- Players who finished first or second in a rating-restricted tournament are not eligible to play another rating-restricted tournament for one year from that achievement.
- Once a player crosses the relevant rating threshold, the 36-month threshold rule applies as specified in the tournament regulations.
🌟 Why This Tournament Is Worth Considering
The Playu Below 1800 International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026 offers a strong competitive opportunity for players looking to participate in a FIDE-rated event in Chennai. With ₹4 lakh in advertised cash prizes, 110 cash prizes, 123 trophies, dedicated rating categories, Women and Veteran prizes, and Under-7 to Under-17 junior trophies, the event caters to players across different levels and age groups.
With nine rounds over three days and an entry fee of ₹2,000, the tournament could be particularly attractive to developing players seeking FIDE-rated competitive experience.
📌 Quick Summary
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Playu Below 1800 International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament |
| Date | 2–4 October 2026 |
| Location | JN Stadium, Periamet, Chennai |
| Prize Pool | ₹4,00,000 |
| Rounds | 9 |
| Entry Fee | ₹2,000 |
| Registration Deadline | 29 September 2026 |
| Rating Categories | 1601–1700, 1501–1600, 1401–1500 |
| Other Categories | Open, Unrated, Women, Veteran |
| Junior Categories | U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U17 |
| Contact | +91 98845 92472 (Shiraj) |
Disclaimer: This information is for informational purposes only. Please verify the latest tournament dates, prizes, registration, eligibility, contact details and venue directly with the organizer and official website before registering or travelling. We are not responsible for changes, errors, cancellations or discrepancies.
Online payment is not available for this event. Contact the organizer to register:
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Raja Muthiah Road, Periamet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600003