ASIAN NATIONS CHESS CUP 2026
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
9–18 November 2026
The Asian Nations Chess Cup 2026 will bring together national chess teams from across Asia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 9 to 18 November 2026.
The championship is organized by the UAE Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF), in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games as the Local Organizing Committee. Eligible FIDE-affiliated national chess federations from Asian Zones 3.1 to 3.8 are invited to participate.
Men’s and Women’s Championships
The Asian Nations Chess Cup will feature separate Men’s and Women’s team competitions, providing national teams from across the continent with the opportunity to compete for the prestigious Asian team titles.
Each participating federation may register a team consisting of four players and one reserve in both the Men’s and Women’s competitions. The official delegation may include a maximum of 10 persons.
Each match will be played over four boards, with teams submitting their line-ups before each round. The competitions will be conducted under the applicable ACF and FIDE regulations.
Nine Rounds of Competition
The championship is scheduled to be played over nine rounds under the Swiss System. If ten or fewer teams participate in a competition, a Round Robin format may be used in accordance with the applicable ACF regulations.
The competition will begin with the Opening Ceremony and first round on 10 November, following the arrival of delegations on 9 November. The remaining rounds will be played through 17 November, with the Closing Ceremony scheduled for the evening of 17 November.
The time control will be 90 minutes per player, with a 30-second increment from move one, using FIDE-approved electronic chess clocks.
Teams will score two match points for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The final ranking will be determined according to the applicable match-point and tie-break regulations.
Asian Titles and World Championship Qualification
The winning teams will be awarded the titles of Asian Nations Chess Cup Men’s Champion 2026 and Asian Nations Chess Cup Women’s Champion 2026.
Championship trophies will be presented to the winning teams, while members of the first-, second- and third-placed teams will receive gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. Individual board prizes will also be awarded in accordance with the applicable ACF regulations.
The Asian Nations Chess Cup also carries an important qualification pathway: the winning teams will represent Asia in the relevant FIDE World Team Championship where such qualification is provided under the applicable FIDE and ACF regulations.
Abu Dhabi Ready to Welcome Asian Teams
The host organizers will provide accommodation and full-board services for eligible official participating teams during the official event period, from arrival on 9 November until departure on 18 November 2026, in accordance with the championship regulations.
Participating federations are required to submit their final team lists and the documents necessary for visa processing no later than 20 October 2026, unless an earlier deadline is required by the UAE authorities or otherwise approved by the Asian Chess Federation.
With national teams from across the Asian continent expected to compete in both sections, the Asian Nations Chess Cup 2026 promises to be an important gathering of Asian chess and a major highlight of the continental chess calendar.
The Asian Chess Federation and the UAE Chess Federation look forward to welcoming the participating national teams to Abu Dhabi in November 2026 for a championship celebrating competitive excellence, national representation and the spirit of Asian chess.