AICF confirms new dates for chess nationals after GM Abhijeet flags 2026 snub
The All India Chess Federation has rescheduled the senior National Chess Championship to November 29-December 9, 2026, in Varanasi, after GM Abhijeet Gupta objected to its proposed March 2027 dates. AICF held discussions with stakeholders to come up with a solution while retaining the venue. Gupta had cited school board exams and the risk of effectively losing the 2026 edition.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has announced new dates for the senior National Chess Championship, confirming the event will occur in 2026 instead of 2027. The championship will be held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh from November 29 to December 9, 2026. The decision came after concerns raised by Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, who expressed opposition to the tournament being moved into March 2027, arguing that it would conflict with school board exams for young players.
The AICF quickly convened meetings with stakeholders and settled on the November-December timeframe. The tournament, initially scheduled for March 25 to April 4, 2027, is now set to avoid the congested international and domestic chess calendar and prioritize the age-group National Championships early in the year. The new schedule follows the October 2025 championship in Guntur, where Panneerselvam Iniyan won his first national title.
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