📌About the Event

Vadodara Chess Carnival 2026 is a major offline chess competition bringing together school students, open-category players and corporate participants from across Gujarat. Promoted as the 3rd Open Gujarat Interschool Chess Championship, the event aims to provide players of different ages and experience levels with a competitive platform to demonstrate their strategic thinking, concentration and chess skills. The carnival is being presented by Our Vadodara and Dhruvik Chess Academy.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Championship: 3rd Open Gujarat Interschool Chess Championship
• Mode of conduct: Offline
• Venue: Sama Sports Complex, Vadodara, Gujarat
• Tournament date: 2 August 2026
• Tournament format: Swiss League format
• Number of rounds: Minimum five rounds
• Time control: 15 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move
• Main participation divisions:
  • Interschool Championship
  • Open Category
  • Corporate Category
• Student age categories:
  • Under-8
  • Under-11
  • Under-15
• Registration contact: 9263005619
• Registrations are being accepted for limited slots and may close once the available places are filled.

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📅 Important Dates

• Competition date: Sunday, 2 August 2026
• Reporting time for Under-8, Under-11 and Under-15 categories: 8:45 AM
• Reporting time for Open Category: 1:15 PM

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Who can participate:
  • Under-8 Category: Participants must have been born on or after 1 January 2018.
  • Under-11 Category: Participants must have been born on or after 1 January 2015.
  • Under-15 Category: Participants must have been born on or after 1 January 2011.
  • Open Category: Open to chess players beyond the listed age-group categories.
  • Corporate Category: Intended for corporate participants; players should confirm individual or team-entry requirements with the organisers.
  • Players must register in the correct category according to their date of birth or participant type.
• The tournament will follow a Swiss League format, meaning players will be paired with opponents based on their performance during the competition.
• Every participant is expected to play a minimum of five rounds.
• Each player will receive 15 minutes, with an additional 5-second increment for every move.
• Players must report before their category’s scheduled reporting time.
• Participants arriving late may miss the opening round or be paired according to the chief arbiter’s decision.
• Players must follow standard tournament chess rules and the instructions issued by the arbiter.
• Electronic devices, outside assistance and unfair playing practices may lead to penalties or disqualification.
• The organisers’ and chief arbiter’s decisions will be final in matters concerning pairings, results, disputes and tournament conduct

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• The Vadodara Chess Carnival 2026 offers a total prize pool of ₹50,000.
• Cash prizes will be distributed among the winners of the applicable tournament categories.
• Category winners and top-ranking players are expected to receive trophies or other recognition.
• Participants in the Under-8, Under-11 and Under-15 categories will receive a participation certificate and medal.
• The exact category-wise cash-prize breakup has not been published in the accessible promotional posts.
• Participants should contact the organisers for the final prize distribution structure for the Open and Corporate categories.