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 of National Under 11 Chess Championship 2026 in Mangaluru from 02-08 August 2026
Fide Trainer Seminar in Mohali from 02-04 October 2026
SNA Seminar & Exam at Amity University, Near Chandigarh Airport, Airport Road, Mohali, Punjab on 03 & 04 October 2026.
SNA Seminar & Exam at Chenduran college of Engineering , Lenavilakku, Pudukkottai District ,Tamil Nadu on 31 October & 01 November 2026
FIDE World Championships U7, U9, U11, U13, U15 & U17 – 2026 in Roquetas de Mar, Spain from 13th to 21st October 2026