Asian Junior Chess Championship Kicks Off in Mumbai with 157 Players from 10 Nations

Mumbai is set to host the continent’s brightest Under-20 chess talent as the Asian Junior Open and Girls Chess Championships 2026 gets underway at the ITC Maratha from August 16 to 26. The prestigious event, organised by the Maharashtra Chess Association under the All India Chess Federation, Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, will feature 157 players from 10 countries competing across Classical, Rapid and Blitz formats .

The championship carries deep historical significance, having produced some of India’s greatest chess legends, including Viswanathan Anand, Abhijit Kunte, Koneru Humpy, Tania Sachdev, and Ivana Furtado among its past champions .

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Strong Field and High Stakes

The tournament features an impressive roster of titled talent, including 6 International Masters and 24 FIDE Masters and Women FIDE Masters, ensuring a high-quality competition throughout .

The Indian contingent in the Open section will be led by IM Mayank Chakraborty (Elo 2500), who became India’s 94th Grandmaster in March 2026 — the first from Northeast India. He is followed by IM Apporv Kamble (2441). Other promising Indian talents to watch include Vignesh Advaith Vemula (2405), Aaditya Dhingra (2403), and Akshay Borgaonkar (2396) .

Russia’s IM Artem Pingin (2477) is also expected to be a strong contender in the Open section .

In the Girls’ section, India’s WFM Pratitee Bordoloi (2252) leads the field. The 13-year-old from Assam recently won a silver medal at the 2026 World Youth Championship (U-18 Girls). Strong challenges are expected from Kazakhstan’s WFA Mariya Kholyavko (2217) and Turkmenistan’s WFM Lala Shohradova (2159). Indian hopes also rest on Swara Lakshmi Nair (2155), Mrittika Mallick (2153), and Saranya Devi Narahari .

A significant attraction of the tournament is the opportunity for players to earn prestigious titles. FIDE regulations confirm that winners of the event — if they are already International Masters — will be granted the Grandmaster norm, while non-IMs will secure the International Master norm for their achievement .

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Tournament Format and Schedule

The championship will be played at the prestigious ITC Maratha in Mumbai, offering world-class facilities for the continent’s brightest Under-20 talent .

The schedule begins with the Blitz and Rapid events from August 16 to 18, followed by the 9-round Classical Swiss tournament from August 19 to 25 .

Detailed time controls have been set according to FIDE regulations:

• Classical: 90 minutes per player for the whole game, with a 30-second increment per move from move one
• Rapid: 15 minutes per player with a 10-second increment per move
• Blitz: 3 minutes per player with a 2-second increment per move

In the Classical Swiss, 157 players will compete, while 153 will take part in the Rapid event and 151 in the Blitz .

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Key Facts and Figures

Category	Details
Dates	August 16–26, 2026
Venue	ITC Maratha, Mumbai
Total Players (Classical)	157
Countries Represented	10
Titled Players	6 IMs, 24 FMs/WFMs
Open Section Average Rating	2054
Girls’ Section Average Rating	1885
Top Open Seed	IM Mayank Chakraborty (2500)
Top Girls’ Seed	WFM Pratitee Bordoloi (2252)

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With a rich history of producing champions, a strong field of titled players, and the opportunity for emerging talents to earn coveted norms, the Asian Junior Open and Girls Chess Championship promises to be a landmark event on the continental chess calendar.