Important Decisions – AICF Central Council Meeting on 23.3.2019

The Central Council meeting held on 23 March in Chennai made the following important decisions:

It was unanimously decided to request Indian Air Force for granting Honorary Rank to Viswanathan Anand which will boost the youngsters in chess field as well as play pivotal role to encourage the youth to join the prestigious force to defend our great nation.

World Junior (Open & Girls) Chess Championships:- India will be hosting World Junior & Junior girls Chess Championship at New Delhi from 14 to 26 October, 2019.  In addition to the FIDE regulations, the following rules will apply to the AICF registered players who are desirous of participation.

Top ranked player (Gold medallist) in the 2018 National Junior & Junior girls chess championship will be selected for whom the AICF will bear the entry fee, Board & Lodge, kit and reimburse 2nd AC train travel.

1. Participation in 2018 National Junior & Girls chess championship held at New Delhi will be basis for considering applications.  Those who have not participated in the above championship are not eligible for participation. However, exemptions are given to the following category of players.

Note: The following players will play as special entries.

(a) GM/IM/WGM/WIM in respective categories, subject to age.
(b) 2018 World & 2018 Asian Medal Winners in Under-16 and Under-18 (Standard format) Open & Girls categories respectively.
(c) 2018 National Champions in Under-17 & Under-15 Open & Girls categories respectively (Standard Age Group Event)

2. As per FIDE guidelines, the total number of participation from one Country should not exceed 1/3 of the total number of participation. In this connection, only the top 50 ranked players from the 2018 National Junior & National Junior Girls are considered to participate. Therefore, the AICF will entertain participation from players strictly on merit as per the following order. :-

(a) 2018 National Junior & 2018 National Girls Chess champion
(b) Players having personal right (seeding) as per the championship regulations.
(c) 2nd& 3rd in 2018 National Junior & Girls Chess Championship
(b) All GMs in Open/WGMs (Female IMs) in Girls (As per order of rating as on 01 Aug 19) category
(c) All IMs in Open / WIMs in Girls (As per order of rating as on 01 Aug 19) category
(d) 2018 World Under-18 Medal Winners (As per order of merit)
(e) 2018 World Under-16 Medal Winners (As per order of merit)
(f) 2018 Asian Under-18 Medal Winners (As per order of merit)
(g) 2018 Asian Under-16 Medal Winners (As per order of merit)
(h) 2018 National Under- 17 Champion
(i) 2018 National Under-15 Champion
(j) One host entry in each category (Player’s participation in 2018 National Junior (Open &Girls) Chess Championship is mandatory and in consultation with AICF)
(k) As per ranking of 2018 National Junior & Girls chess championship

3. All entries to be submitted online at www.aicf.in on or before 31 July 2018 with Rs. 12000/- towards FIDE Entry fee.

4.  The AICF after finalizing the entries shall send a mail confirming the participation of the Indian players.  Those not selected shall get back their money.

5.  The short listed players will have to participate with the official uniform.

6. Players should bear travel expenses, board & lodge on their own.  However, the organizers can provide board and lodge on payment basis as per tournament regulations.

7. All players must be registered with AICF for the year 2019-20.

World Youth (Open & Girls) Chess Championships:- India will be hosting World Youth Chess Championship at Mumbai from 01 to 13October, 2019.  In addition to the FIDE regulations, the following rules will apply to the AICF registered who are desirous of participation.

Top ranked players (Gold medallists) in the 2018 National Under-13 / Under-15 / Under-17 chess championship will be selected for whom the AICF will bear the entry fee, Board & Lodge, kit and reimburse 2nd AC train travel.

1. Top 50 rankers in order of merit from the 2018 National Under-13 / Under-15 / Under-17 chess championships held at Ahmadabad / Kalyani / Sonipat respectively will alone be considered for participating in the championship.  Those who have not finished top 50 in the above championships are not eligible for participation. However, exemptions are given to the following category of players.

(a) GM/IM/WGM/WIM in respective categories, subject to age.
(b) 2018 World & 2018 Asian Medal Winners (Standard format) will be considered for special entries as detailed below:
(i) Medal winners in Under – 10 and Under – 12 will be allowed in Under – 14 category only
(ii) Medal winners in Under – 12 and Under – 14 will be allowed in Under – 16 category
(iii) Medal winners in Under – 14 and Under – 16 will be allowed in Under – 16 category.
(d) Players having personal right (seeding) as per the championship regulations
(e) One host entry in each category (Players who have participated in the 2018 standard age group Nationals alone will be identified as per merit and in consultation with AICF) as special entry

2. All entries to be submitted online at www.aicf.in on or before 31 July 2018 with Rs. 12000/- towards FIDE entry fee.

3.  The short listed players will have to participate with the official uniform.

4. Players should bear travel expenses, board & lodge on their own.  However, the organizers can provide board and lodge on payment basis as per tournament regulations.

5. All players must be registered with AICF for the year 2019-20.

National Team Chess Championships:- The prize money for the Open team championship has been increased to Rs. 2,25,000/- while the women prize money has been increased to Rs. 1,50,000/-. Every state now can field maximum up to three teams only and needs to play the event with suffixing ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ to their state name. No other names for the team are not allowed. The special affiliated units can field maximum two teams while the host state will have one additional entry apart from allotted three.

National Schools Championship:- For the year 2019, the winners of the National Schools Championship to be held in Raipur in April will qualify for the Asian and World Schools Championships for the year 2019. Another edition of National School Championships will be held in December 2019 to determine the qualifiers for the 2020 World and Asian Schools Championships.

From 2020, the medal winners of the National School Championships will qualify for the next year’s World and Asian Schools Championships.

6. Players request against penalty imposed.

The House unanimously decided that AICF’s focus is not on punishment but on enforcing discipline and promoting talent. Considering the lapse of time, financial difficulty expressed by players, and the primary objectives of AICF, the House unanimously decided those players who are interested in re-registration with AICF should be permitted to re-register if they tender written apology and give an undertaking that they will henceforth abide by the existing bye-laws/rules of the AICF.

Click here to download Application Form for re-registraion