Venue

Six Titles, 6 Winners

A total of six world championship titles will be on the line across three rating categories: Under 1700, Under 2000, and Under 2300, with separate divisions for Open and Women. Alongside the coveted world titles and trophies, players will compete for a total prize fund of €15,000.

Welcome to Malaysia

Schedule

The event spans 9 rounds of Swiss action, complete with an official rest day celebrating Diwali:

Venue

The Championships will be held at the KSL Esplanade Hotel (4-star), Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, from November 4th (arrival date) until November 13th (departure date) 2026.

The playing venue is a modern, spacious, and fully air-conditioned hall meeting all FIDE standards for international championships, with uniform lighting, adequate spacing between boards, high-speed Wi-Fi with backup internet, an electronic results display system and DGT electronic boards for live broadcasting of selected games. Dedicated official rooms will be provided for the Secretariat, Arbiters, Tournament Director, FIDE officials, live games operations and media. The playing hall is within 5 minutes' walking distance of the official hotel.

Eligibility Criteria

The tournament enforces strict rating cut-offs and title caps. To compete, players must not have crossed their section’s rating ceiling for at least one full year prior to the deadline/start:

  • Under 2300: Must not have had a published standard FIDE rating of 2300+ in the past year (prior to Oct 9, 2026). Ineligible titles: IM, WIM, GM, WGM. Maximum title allowed: FM / WFM.

  • Under 2000: Must not have had a rating of 2000+ in the past year (prior to Nov 4, 2026). Ineligible titles: FM, WFM, IM, WIM, GM, WGM. Maximum title allowed: CM / WCM.

  • Under 1700: Must not have had a rating of 1700+ in the past year (prior to Nov 4, 2026). Ineligible titles: FM, WFM, IM, WIM, GM, WGM. Maximum title allowed: CM / WCM.

Prize Fund Breakdown (€15,000 Total)

Category

Open Top 3

Women Top 3

Under 2300 (€7,500 total)

1st: €2,000 | 2nd: €1,500 | 3rd: €1,000 (4th: €600, 5th: €400)

1st: €1,000 | 2nd: €600 | 3rd: €400

Under 2000 (€4,500 total)

1st: €1,500 | 2nd: €1,000 | 3rd: €500

1st: €700 | 2nd: €500 | 3rd: €300

Under 1700 (€3,000 total)

1st: €1,000 | 2nd: €600 | 3rd: €400

1st: €500 | 2nd: €300 | 3rd: €200

Registration Process & Deadlines

  • Registration Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2026.

  • Visa Invitation Letter Request Deadline: October 5, 2026.

  • Travel Details Submission: October 28, 2026.

  • Registration Fees:

    • Players: €140 (€110 entry/transfer/badge + €30 FIDE fee)

    • Accompanying Persons / Coaches: €60 (badge and airport transfer)

Registrations must be endorsed and forwarded through each player's national chess federation (e.g., AICF for Indian players).

Important Links

Invitation, schedule, regulations, travel information (PDF)

Official email: worldamateur@fide.com

FIDE World Amateur Chess Championships 2026 official website will be launched soon at: worldamateur2026.fide.com