National Premier (National ‘A’) Format (14 Players Round-Robin):
- a)Immediate past National Challengers – 09
- b)Current National Champion – 01
- c)Top ELO Rated Players – 04
(For ‘C’ category the published rating of players one month before the start of the National Challengers will be the criteria to decide top four ELO rated)
New Rules in force from 2017 National Challengers Championship:
The players above 2650 ELO rating will get preference over National Challengers while filling up the vacancies caused by the non-participation of top four rated players who are directly seeded along with the National Champion. However if above 2650 players are also not available, players as per rankings in the National Challengers will become eligible.
Example: If the top rated player of the country is not participating in National Premier, then the number five player will get his seat provided the number five player is on or above 2650 ELO rating.
If the National Champion is among the top four rated, then player number five from top rated will get a direct seeding provided he is on or above 2650 ELO rating.
If on or above 2650 players unavailable then the vacancy will be filled from the National Challengers as per rankings.
National Women Premier (12 players Round-Robin):
- a)National Women Challengers -08
- b)National Women Champion -01
- c)Top three rated -03
(For ‘C’ category the published rating of players one month before the start of the National Challengers will be the criteria to decide top three ELO rated)
New Rule in force from 2017 National Challengers Women’s Championship:
The Women players on or above 2350 ELO rating will get preference over National Challengers while filling up the vacancies caused by the non-participation of top three rated players who are directly seeded along with the National Champion. However if on or above 2350 ELO rated players are also not available, players as per rankings in the National Challengers will become eligible.

Certificate :National Under 13 Chess Championship 2026 in Pondicherry
Senior National Arbiter (SNA) Seminar & Exam on November 28 & 29, 2026 at Delhi Public School ,Sector – A, Shrinath Puram, Kota, Rajasthan 324005.
Grand Opening of the Western Asia Youth and Junior Chess Championships 2026 in Ahmedabad
Live games link for Western Asian Youth & Junior (all categories) Chess Championship 2026
FINAL Report :Senior National Arbiter Seminar, Mohali on 03 & 04 October 2026
Final Report:Senior National Arbiter Seminar & Examination in Guwahati – 02 & 03 September 2026