DIMAPUR, APRIL 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Chess Association, under the aegis of the All India Chess Federation, will host the state’s first-ever FIDE-rated chess tournament on April 24 and 25.
The 1st Nagaland Open FIDE Rating Rapid Chess Tournament 2025 will take place at the Don Bosco Institute for Development and Leadership (DBIDL) Hall in Riverbelt Colony, Dimapur. The two-day rapid event is expected to attract players from across the country, with a total prize pool of Rs 3,00,000 to be distributed across 49 categories.
The tournament will feature nine rounds, played under FIDE’s Laws of Chess and the Swiss System. The time control is set at 10 minutes per game with a 5-second increment from move one.
Registration is open to all Indian players, rated or unrated. The entry fee is Rs 1,000 for players from Nagaland and Rs 1,500 for participants from other states. The deadline to register without a late fee is April 15. Late registration, with an additional Rs 250 charge, will be accepted until April 22. Full tournament details are available on the events page at nagalandchess.com.
“This tournament presents a golden opportunity for Naga chess players to earn official FIDE ratings without traveling outside the state,” said Mengise Haikam, joint secretary of the Nagaland Chess Association. “We are hopeful that many new players will earn their first international ratings here.”
To obtain a FIDE rating, a player must compete in a FIDE-rated tournament, face at least five rated opponents, and score a minimum of half a point against them. FIDE ratings, often referred to as Elo ratings, are a numerical measure of a player’s performance and global standing.
Although various unrated tournaments have been held across Nagaland over the years, they did not contribute to international ratings. Currently, only a few Naga players hold FIDE ratings, having participated in rated events outside the state.
FIDE, short for Fédération Internationale des Échecs (International Chess Federation), is the global governing body for competitive chess.
For registration and further inquiries, contact Mengise Haikam at +91 70054 58265.
