FIDE Arbiter Seminar 2026-27: Nationwide Training Initiative for Chess Officials

The All India Chess Federation has announced a comprehensive series of FIDE Arbiter Seminars scheduled to take place across eleven cities in India between April and November 2026. The program aims to strengthen the training of chess officials and maintain high standards for tournament arbitration across the country.

Seminar Schedule and Locations

The seminars will be conducted in Vijayawada, Chandigarh, Siliguri, Ahmedabad, Jamshedpur, Pune, Noida, Jammu, Mysore, Chennai, and Gurgaon between 24 April 2026 and 29 November 2026. Each seminar runs for three days, with sessions beginning on specific weekends across the seven-month period.

Specific venues have been designated for several locations. The JRD TATA Sports Complex will host the Jamshedpur seminar from 17 to 19 July 2026. In Noida, sessions will be held at Jaypee Public School in the G-Block area of Jaypee Greens from 11 to 13 September 2026. The Mysore seminar is scheduled at the ODP Centre near St Joseph’s Hospital in Bannimantap from 30 October to 1 November 2026. Chennai participants will attend at Time2Chess Corporate Office in Nolambur from 11 to 13 November 2026, while the Jammu seminar will take place at the Nek Hotel from 9 to 11 October 2026.

Eligibility and Registration Requirements

The training program is open exclusively to Senior National Arbiters who currently hold a valid NA License. Candidates must obtain recommendation from their respective state chess associations before proceeding with registration. Applications submitted directly without state association endorsement will not be considered.

Prospective participants should submit their names to their state associations by 15 April 2026 for the Vijayawada seminar and at least twenty days before their chosen seminar date for other locations. Each seminar accommodates a maximum of twenty participants to ensure quality instruction and personalized attention.

Fee Structure and Payment Process

The seminar fee is set at ₹5,000 per participant, which includes the applicable FIDE fee. Payment must only be made after receiving official confirmation of participation via email. Candidates are advised against remitting fees before receiving acceptance notification. Non-selected applicants will have their payments refunded promptly.

Participant Responsibilities

Selected candidates are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and travel. Such arrangements should only be made after receiving confirmation of selection together with the state association recommendation. The federation has clarified that its responsibility regarding refunds extends only to cases of non-selection or cancellation due to force majeure circumstances.

Source

This report is based on information published by Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA).

Official source: https://tamilchess.com/fide-arbiter-seminar-2026-27-3/