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.

Round 3 : 1st Chola Chess International Grandmaster Norm Round Robin Tournament 2026, Chennai.
Day 2:1st Chola Chess International Grandmaster Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournament, Chennai
Fide Arbiter Seminar in Pune 28 Feb -02 March 2026 & Thoothukudi 07-09 March 2026
First Chola chess International GM Norm Round Robin Tournament in form Chennai from 02 February to 11 February 2026.
Live games link for First Chola chess International GM Norm Round Robin Tournament 2026
Announcement : Medical Evaluation in Chennai on 27 & 28 February 2026.