The Melbourne Chess Club (MCC) is preparing to host the 2026 Victorian Chess Championship, one of Australia’s premier state titles.
Running across nine consecutive Saturday nights from August 22 through October 24, 2026 (with a single bye week on August 29), the tournament brings together top regional talent, seasoned international masters, and club players competing for state honors and cash prizes.
The championship is split into two main divisions to accommodate both elite competitors and open entries:
- Premier Division (10-Player Round Robin): Reserved for the highest-rated entrants based on the August FIDE rating list, alongside guaranteed spots for the defending Victorian Champion and the 2025 Reserves winner. Competitors will play under classical time controls of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.
- Reserves Division (9-Round Swiss): An open division capped at 120 participants, offering classical play at 75 minutes plus a 30-second increment. The winner of the Reserves section earns direct qualification into the 2027 Premier Division.
Both divisions offer guaranteed cash prizes:
- Premier Division: 1st Place ($1,500 AUD), 2nd Place ($750 AUD), 3rd Place ($450 AUD).
- Reserves Division: 1st Place ($750 AUD), 2nd Place ($450 AUD), 3rd Place ($300 AUD), plus rating group prizes ($300 / $200 AUD).
In the event of a tie for first place in either division, prize money will be shared, but the official State Title will be decided by a playoff match. The playoff consists of two classical games, followed by rapid and blitz tiebreaks if necessary.
Currently top rated players are:
1 IM Li Tedric 2350
2 IM Cannon David 2330
3 FM Soo Kai Jie 2278
4 FM Annapureddy Rheyansh 2252
5 FM Wallis Christopher 2205
6 FM Dragicevic Domagoj 2182
7 CM Gao Arthur 2141
8 FM Yang Ray 2131
9 FM Ilic Nicholas 2098
10 CM Kalina Leo 2083
Venue: Melbourne Chess Club (MCC)
Round Schedule: All rounds start at 7:15 PM on Saturdays (Aug 22, Sep 5, Sep 12, Sep 19, Sep 26, Oct 3, Oct 10, Oct 17, Oct 24).
Entry Fees: $100 AUD Adults / $90 AUD Juniors & Seniors. Free entry for GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs.
Registration Deadline: Friday, August 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
