After Arjuna Awardee calls out Indian chess calendar, AICF moves swiftly to find solution

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) is working to hold the Senior National Chess Championship in November-December 2026 after it was initially scheduled for March 2027.

Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, an Arjuna Awardee, raised concerns on social media that the March-April window could clash with school board examinations.

AICF officials are in talks with stakeholders, including the host state association, to finalise dates in the November-December window.

The initial postponement was due to a packed domestic and international calendar, but AICF now prioritises age-group championships for world qualification.

The championship was originally scheduled for March 25 to April 4, 2027, in Varanasi, which would have meant no nationals in 2026.