1st Andaman International Open FIDE-Rated Chess Tournament to be held from 23rd to 28th August
The 1st Andaman International Open FIDE-Rated Chess Tournament will be held in Port Blair from 23rd to 28th August 2025. It will be a 9-round classical tournament with the time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from the first move. Out of the total prize fund of Rs. 7,00,000, the winner will take home Rs. 1,00,000. Titled players and players rated above 2000 will receive free entry for this event. The last date of registration for this tournament is 10th July. Check out the article to know more. Photo: Andaman Nicobar Chess Association
Tournament cum Mini Vacation!
One of the perks of playing chess is that you get to travel! You visit places that you may not have thought of exploring otherwise. One such chance is coming up for the chess players this August. There is a tournament happening in one of the beautiful parts of India: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
I visited the Andaman in 2022, not for a tournament, just for a trip, and it turned out to be one of the best trips of my life. The moment I landed there, I fell in love! The greenest of green, the bluest of blue waters… it was surreal! Sometimes the reality doesn’t live up to what we see in photos. But this was the opposite for Andaman. The place is so peaceful! I am sure playing in a chess tournament there would be something truly special!
The 1st Andaman International Open FIDE-Rated Chess Tournament will he held from 23rd to 28th August in Port Blair. What a great opportunity is this as you can turn it into a tournament cum mini vacation!
Here is what you need to know about the event:
Date: 23rd August to 28th August 2025
Venue: Jalsa, Dolly Gunj, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Format: 9 rounds classical tournament
Time control: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move one.
Eligibility: Players who have registered with AICF for the 2025-26 year.
(Note: If you are not registered yet, you can do so easily at https://prs.aicf.in/players before submitting your entry.)
The total prize fund for this event is Rs. 7,00,000. So, there is good reason to play your best! The Champion will win Rs. 1,00,000 along with the trophy. The top 25 finishers will receive cash prizes, while the top 5 finishers will receive a trophy along with the cash prize. Not only this, there are special prizes for best young boy and girl, best female, best unrated, best veteran, and best local players. Plus, there are age category prizes. Overall, there is plenty of motivation for players to participate and win this event.
Accommodation
The first 25 rated mainland players will get a double-sharing air-conditioned room at a discounted rate of Rs. 1800 per player for 7 nights (22nd to 28th August). So make sure to book in advance! Other mainland players will also get help to find affordable rooms near the venue. If you have any queries, you can contact Mr. K Deena Bandhu on 94742 48882.
Registration
To register for the tournament, players must fill out the Google form given below. Entries will not be accepted without it.
Entry fee
The entry fee is Rs. 2900 if you register before 10th July 2025. After that, it will be Rs. 3400. There is no entry fee for titled players, and those rated above 2000. No entries will be accepted after 10th August 2025, 5:00 PM. Since the seats are limited, and the entries are on a first-come, first-served basis, it’s best to register early!
Account details for submission of entry fee:
Account Name: ANDAMAN - NICOBAR CHESS ASSOCIATION
Bank Name: Canara Bank
Account No: 1185101018125
IFSC Code: CNRB0001185
Branch Code: 1185
Branch Name: Port Blair, Andaman
After payment of the entry fee, you need to send a screenshot of the payment to WhatsApp no: 9434293379. Make sure the transaction ID is clearly visible. Along with the screenshot, send the following details:
1: Player Name
2: FIDE ID
3: Name of the State
4: Date of Birth
After registering for he event, the players are requested to join the WhatsApp Group by using the given Link.
For any assistance, players can contact:
B Neelaiah, Organising Secretary, ANCA: 9434293379 / 9679593366
N T Suba Laxmi, Treasurer, ANCA: 94742 59628
S Netazi, Vice President, ANCA: 9434292502 (Transportation)
A Janki Rao, Treasurer, SADCA: 9474201444( Liaisoning)
K Deena Bandhu: 94742 48882 (Accommodation)
The players can also send an email to anchessassociation@gmail.com for any queries.
Important note: Players travelling from the mainland are requested to contact Mr. Swapan Karmakar before booking their flight tickets to Port Blair. Many flight options showing as available online for the July–September period are not actually confirmed for operation. It has happened that players have unknowingly booked such flights in the past, which were later cancelled. So, to avoid any inconvenience, please connect with Mr. Swapan Karmakar at +91 80013 34464 (between 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon) before making your travel bookings.
For players, to make this event more special, the tournament organisers have shared details of some must-visit places around the islands:
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity, as only a few days are left to register!