Play three FIDE-rated tournaments for just ₹4,999

Nine years after setting that benchmark, the 4th Resha International Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament makes its long-awaited return from 27th September to 2nd October 2026. Hosted by the venerable Resha Shikshan Sanstha, the 2026 edition transforms Nashik once again into a national battleground of tactical ambition.

The Ultimate Triple-Header: Three FIDE Ratings in Six Days

In an Indian chess calendar crowded with isolated weekends and grueling single-format marathons, Resha’s fourth chapter presents an extraordinary logistical and competitive rarity: three separate FIDE-rated events - Classical, Rapid, and Blitz - packed seamlessly into a single six-day window.

  • The Classical Championship (₹5,00,000 Prize Fund): 9 rounds of classical chess at the championship standard of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment from move one.

  • The Rapid & Blitz Tournaments (₹25,000 Prize Fund Each): Full-scale 9-round FIDE-rated Rapid (10 mins + 5 sec increment) and Blitz (3 mins + 2 sec increment) events.

  • The All-Inclusive Pass: Players registering for the Classical tournament at just ₹4,999 gain automatic, complimentary entry into both the Rapid and Blitz tournaments.

 With a total cash purse of ₹5,50,000 along with 162 trophies, this structure offers players an unprecedented springboard to simultaneously push their classical, rapid, and blitz Elo ratings on a single ticket.

Prize fund for classical

The Schedule:

The tournament timetable is engineered to balance classical depth with high-octane speed chess:

Dates

Morning Session

Afternoon / Evening Session

27th – 29th Sep

Classical Round (9:30 AM / 10:30 AM) (R1 to R6)

Classical Round (3:30 PM / 4:00 PM)

30th Sep – 1st Oct

Classical Round (9:30 AM) (R7, R8 )

FIDE Rapid Rounds (from 2:00 PM)

2nd Oct

Classical Round (8:30 AM) (R9)

FIDE Blitz Rounds (from 1:00 PM)

 A Legacy of Champions and an Electrifying Field

Resha Shikshan Sanstha, an institution celebrated across Maharashtra for its sprawling educational campus on Nashik’s Gangapur Road, approaches tournament administration with institutional rigor.

The pedigree speaks for itself. The 2nd edition champion was none other than the current captain of the Indian Chess Olympiad team, Srinath Narayanan, who dominated the field as an International Master back then. Over the years, the tournament has drawn some of western India’s fiercest competitors, including GM Shardul Gagare, IM Sameer Kathmale, IM Suyog Wagh, and WGM Bhakti Kulkarni.

 

The 2026 lineup continues this tradition. At the time of writing, CM Vedant Varasada (2464) is the top seed of the tournament, with 1 IM and 3 FMs close behind.

  • 9 players above 2000

  • 26 players above 1800

  • More than 50% Rated Field!

For aspiring juniors and ambitious club players, this concentration of strength represents ideal hunting grounds, offering a chance to get some high-rated scalps!

Also, for unrated players, this is a huge opportunity since more than 50% of the players are rated, so they will have a high chance of getting their first international rating!

The Venue

Competitive stamina often hinges on off-board comfort. The chosen venue, the expansive Swaminarayan Banquet Hall along the Mumbai-Agra Highway (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Naka), delivers an ideal tournament environment:

Playing Hall

  • Direct Highway Connectivity: Situated right on the Mumbai-Agra Highway, the hall provides friction-free road and rail accessibility for domestic and outstation travelers.

  • On-Site Accommodation: Dedicated player lodging is arranged directly within the venue complex, sparing participants morning commutes and providing crucial extra minutes for opening preparation and rest.

  • Full On-Site Dining: Multiple catering and dining options will operate throughout the event, ensuring players have immediate access to healthy meals between rounds. Players opting for accommodation at the venue get complimentary breakfast!

Chess in Kumbhanagari - A Late Monsoon Gateway

Visiting Nashik in late September offers an experience far beyond sixty-four squares. The tournament is held on the cusp of Kumbh Mela 2026–27, capturing the city in a serene interlude just before millions arrive for the 12-year sacred gathering.

The monsoon easing off, and the hills around the city still green. Families travelling with players, and anyone who stays on after the last round, will find plenty to see. The Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, the source of the Godavari River, is about 30 km from the venue. In Panchavati, the ghats around Ramkund are a short walk from the black-stone Kalaram temple. The Swaminarayan temple is another grand temple, within walking distance from the playing venue and the Saptashrungi Devi shrine on the hill at Vani makes a good day trip.

Registration Deadline: Strictly 25th September 2026.

 Absolute Rule: Under no circumstances will spot entries be entertained after the deadline, a policy enforced equally across unrated competitors and Grandmasters.

Lock in your seat, pack your bags, and secure your place in Kumbhanagari before the clocks start ticking.

Register here - https://resha.revolutionarychess.com/

Previous Editions -

https://chessbase.in/news/resha-nashik-2017
https://chessbase.in/news/srinath-wins-nasik/

The article is edited by Devansh Singh