Vimana City's 2nd International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament 2026, Thanjavur
Vimana City’s 2nd International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament, Thanjavur — 5 to 9 August 2026
Golden Square Chess Academy, affiliated to the Thanjavur District Chess Association, presents the 2nd Vimana City International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament — one of Tamil Nadu’s biggest FIDE-rated open events of 2026, offering a total cash prize pool of ₹11,00,001, along with 4 electric bikes, 10 bicycles, 77 trophies, and 50 medals across the open and age-category sections.
The event runs from 5th to 9th August 2026 at Kamala Subramaniam Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Thanjavur, and includes a standalone FIDE Rated Blitz Tournament on 8th August with a separate ₹2,00,000 prize pool.
Quick Facts
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Vimana City’s 2nd International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament |
| Organizer | Golden Square Chess Academy (affiliated to Thanjavur District Chess Association) |
| AICF Event Code | 480151/TN/2026 |
| TNSCA Approval No. | RO-18/TNJ/26-27 |
| Dates | 5th – 9th August 2026 (9 rounds, Swiss system) |
| Venue | Kamala Subramaniam Matric. Hr. Sec. School, Pudukkottai Road, Thanjavur – 613 007 (1 km from New Bus Stand) |
| Total Cash Prizes | ₹11,00,001 |
| Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move 1 |
| Tie-break | Buchholz system; prizes are not shared in case of a tie |
| Entry Fee | ₹5,250 (early bird, till 10.07.2026) / ₹5,500 (till 01.08.2026) |
| Free Entry | IMs, GMs, WIMs, WGMs |
| Accommodation | Free for all players (shared hostel-type, bring your own bedding) |
| Chief Arbiter | IA Ganesh Babu S |
About the Tournament
Now in its second edition, Vimana City’s International FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament has quickly become one of the standout events on the Tamil Nadu chess calendar, drawing players from across India for nine rounds of FIDE-rated Swiss-system competition. The tournament takes its name from Thanjavur’s iconic Brihadeeswarar Temple — the “Big Temple” — whose towering vimana is visible on the tournament poster and is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
Beyond the headline open section, the event runs dedicated prize categories for rating bands, an unrated section, a local Thanjavur players’ prize, and boys’/girls’ age-category prizes from Under 7 to Under 15 — making it accessible to club players, junior prospects, and titled players alike.
Open Section Prizes
Total: ₹11,00,001
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹1,00,001 |
| 2nd | ₹50,000+ |
| 3rd | ₹40,000+ |
| 4th | ₹20,000 |
| 5th | ₹15,000 |
| 6th – 10th | ₹10,000 each |
| 11th – 13th | ₹8,000 each |
| 14th – 15th | ₹7,000 each |
| 16th – 25th | ₹6,000 each |
| 26th – 35th | ₹5,500 each |
Rating-Category Prizes
Below 1400–1500 / Below 1501–1650 / Below 1651–1800 (each category)
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹70,000 + EV-bike + trophy |
| 2nd | ₹40,000 |
| 3rd | ₹20,000 |
| 4th | ₹12,000 |
| 5th | ₹7,000 |
| 6th – 10th | ₹5,500 each |
Unrated Section
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹50,000 + EV-bike |
| 2nd | ₹25,000 |
| 3rd | ₹15,000 |
| 4th | ₹10,000 |
| 5th | ₹7,000 |
| 6th – 10th | ₹5,500 each |
Special Prize for Thanjavur District Players
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹8,000 |
| 2nd – 10th | Trophy |
Boys’ & Girls’ Age-Category Prizes (Awarded Separately)
Categories: Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | Bicycle + trophy |
| 2nd – 5th | Trophy |
| 6th – 10th | Medal |
FIDE Rated Blitz Tournament — 8th August 2026
A separate FIDE-rated blitz event runs on the third day of the tournament, with its own ₹2,00,000 prize pool.
- AICF Event Code: 482843/TN(B)/2026
- TNSCA Approval No.: RBR-03/TNJ/26-27
- Date & Start: 08.08.2026, 2:00 PM
- Format: 9 rounds, time control 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment, default time as clock time
- Entry Fee: ₹1,000
- Prize Distribution: 08.08.2026, 6:30 PM
Blitz Main Prize
| Position | Prize | Position | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | ₹25,000 | 12th–13th | ₹3,000 each |
| 2nd | ₹20,000 | 14th–16th | ₹2,500 each |
| 3rd | ₹15,000 | 17th–19th | ₹2,000 each |
| 4th | ₹12,000 | 20th–22nd | ₹1,500 each |
| 5th | ₹8,500 | 23rd–25th | ₹1,000 each |
| 6th | ₹7,000 | ||
| 7th | ₹6,000 | ||
| 8th | ₹5,000 | ||
| 9th | ₹4,500 | ||
| 10th | ₹4,000 | ||
| 11th | ₹3,500 |
Blitz Rating Categories (1400–1500, 1501–1600, 1601–1700, 1701–1900, and Unrated — same structure for each)
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ₹5,000 |
| 2nd | ₹3,000 |
| 3rd | ₹2,000 |
| 4th | ₹1,500 |
| 5th | ₹1,000 |
Boys’ and girls’ Under 7/9/11/13/15 trophy categories are also awarded separately in the blitz event.
Blitz Round Schedule — all rounds on 08.08.2026
| Round | Time | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:00 PM | 6 | 4:30 PM |
| 2 | 2:30 PM | 7 | 5:00 PM |
| 3 | 3:00 PM | 8 | 5:30 PM |
| 4 | 3:30 PM | 9 | 6:00 PM |
| 5 | 4:00 PM |
Main Open Round Schedule
| Round | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Inaugural Ceremony | 05-08-2026 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 1 | 05-08-2026 | 11:00 AM |
| Round 2 | 05-08-2026 | 3:00 PM |
| Round 3 | 06-08-2026 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 4 | 06-08-2026 | 2:30 PM |
| Round 5 | 07-08-2026 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 6 | 07-08-2026 | 2:30 PM |
| Round 7 | 08-08-2026 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 8 | 09-08-2026 | 9:00 AM |
| Round 9 | 09-08-2026 | 2:30 PM |
| Prize Distribution Ceremony | 09-08-2026 | 6:30 PM |
Indian income tax rules will be applicable to all prize winnings.
Entry Fee & Registration
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Early bird (till 10.07.2026) | ₹5,250 |
| Standard (till 01.08.2026) | ₹5,500 |
| FIDE Blitz | ₹1,000 |
| IMs, GMs, WIMs, WGMs | Free entry |
| Physically challenged / visually impaired players | 50% discount |
Last date of entry: 01-08-2026, 6:00 PM
Pay entry fees online via: www.signinchess.com · www.chessfee.com · www.bookmyfees.com · www.chessentry.in · www.easypaychess.com · www.chesscircle.com · www.chessmii.com
Pay by demand draft: in favour of “Golden Square Chess Academy”
Bank transfer:
- Account Name: Golden Square Chess Academy
- A/C No: 029302000000999
- IFSC Code: IOBA0000293
- Bank: Indian Overseas Bank, Poondi Branch, Thanjavur
If paying by bank transfer or online, send a scanned copy of the receipt/challan via WhatsApp to 7010991815 / 9600305651, or email goldensquareca64@gmail.com.
Mandatory Player Registrations
| Registration | Fee | For | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| AICF Player Registration | ₹300 (2026–2027) | Compulsory for all Indian players | aicf.in/players (renewal) · aicf.in/online-player-registration (new) |
| TNSCA Player Registration | ₹150 (2026–2027) | Compulsory for all Tamil Nadu players | registration.tamilchess.com |
| Thanjavur DCA Registration | ₹75 (2026–2027) | Thanjavur district players only | Contact organizers |
All registrations should be completed before the start of the tournament. Fresh registrations require a passport-size photograph (under 1MB, JPEG) and birth certificate.
Venue Details
Kamala Subramaniam Matriculation Higher Secondary School Pudukkottai Road, Thanjavur – 613 007 (1 km from Thanjavur New Bus Stand)
Accommodation
- Free accommodation for all players, in unfurnished hostel-type shared rooms at the venue.
- Accompanying persons: ₹700 for the full duration of the tournament.
- Male and female players are accommodated in separate buildings — mixed-gender accommodation in the same room is not permitted.
- Players must bring their own bedding.
- Accommodation contact: English/Tamil: 9597673478 · Hindi: 9345539740
Food
Food stalls will be available at the venue throughout the tournament at reasonable cost.
Places to Visit Near the Venue
| Place | Distance | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Big Temple (Brihadeeswarar Temple) | 6 km | 11th-century Shiva temple built by Raja Raja Chola I, famed for its towering vimana |
| Rajali Bird Park | 6 km | A peaceful bird sanctuary with exotic and native species |
| Thanjavur Maratha Palace | 7.5 km | Royal halls, art gallery, and the Saraswathi Mahal Library |
| Kallanai (Grand Anicut) | 45 km | Ancient Chola-era dam on the Kaveri, still in use for irrigation |
| Sivaganga Park | 6.7 km | A recreational park popular with visitors of all ages |
Nearby Hotels
- GRK Residency — 200 m from venue
- Sri Krishna Inn — 900 m from venue
Rules & Regulations
| System of Play | Latest FIDE Rules; Swiss system |
| Rounds | 9 rounds |
| Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move 1 |
| Default Time | 15 minutes |
| Tie-break | Buchholz system; prizes not shared in case of a tie |
| Protests | Written protest to the Appeals Committee within 15 minutes of the incident, with a fee of ₹1,000 (refunded if the appeal is upheld) |
| Appeals Committee | Formed from senior participants present at the players’ meeting; decisions are final and binding |
| Withdrawals | Players may withdraw at any stage after informing the Chief Arbiter in writing |
| Wrist Watches | Not permitted during play, as per AICF regulations |
| Rights of Admission | Reserved by AICF / TNSCA / Thanjavur DCA / Golden Square Chess Academy |
Chief Arbiter: IA Ganesh Babu S
Courier Facility for Bike & Bicycle Winners
Winners of the EV-bike and bicycle prizes can avail a courier facility at the help desk during the prize distribution ceremony. The tournament organizer and team are not responsible for shipping the prize by courier beyond this facility.
Contact for Entries
| Language | Contact |
|---|---|
| English & Tamil | 7010991815 / 9600305651 |
| Hindi | 7999490130 |
Email: goldensquareca64@gmail.com
Tournament Directors:
- Mr. Bala Kowshi D.S — Secretary, Golden Square Chess Academy
- Mr. Kathereswaran A — Treasurer, Golden Square Chess Academy
Online payment is not available for this event. Contact the organizer to register:
📞 English & Tamil 7010991815 / 9600305651 Hindi 7999490130
Golden Square Chess Academy (affiliated to Thanjavur District Chess Association)
Kamala Subramaniam Matric. Hr. Sec. School, Pudukkottai Road, Thanjavur – 613 007 (1 km from New Bus Stand)