The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is set to host its inaugural FIDE-rated rapid chess tournament on February 7, 2026, marking a significant expansion for its Chess Club IITK into offline competitions. The event features a prize pool of 200,000 INR and will follow a Swiss format over nine rounds. This tournament aims to provide competitive exposure to emerging talent in the region.
Chess has long been embedded in the intellectual culture at IIT Kanpur, fostering strategic thinking and community engagement beyond academics. The Chess Club IITK, established in 2007, has built a strong reputation through online events and now ventures into offline play with this milestone tournament.
The tournament, scheduled for February 7, 2026, at Yoga Hall in the New SAC on the IIT Kanpur campus, will consist of nine rounds in Swiss format with a time control of 10+5 minutes. With a prize pool of 200,000 INR, it invites players from clubs, institutions, and independent backgrounds. This step addresses the scarcity of top-tier tournaments in Kanpur, where local talent often lacks exposure.
The club's activities already include an annual championship cycle featuring the Candidates Tournament, Grand Swiss, Chess Cup, and Speed Chess Championship. It also runs India's largest collegiate chess league, CMPL, whose latest edition boasted over 900,000 INR in prizes and more than 1,500 participants. Regular practice sessions, internal tournaments with over 100 players, and street chess events help build over-the-board experience. The IIT Kanpur chess team has earned numerous accolades, and the institute honored chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand with an honorary doctorate in 2016.
Ideas for a FIDE-rated event have circulated in the club for three to four years but were hindered by logistical challenges and a demanding academic schedule. Now realized, the tournament represents a forward leap for the club.
"We cordially invite chess players from clubs, institutions, and independent backgrounds to join us for this special occasion," states the invitation from IIT Kanpur.
