FIDE’s Rapid and Blitz Fee Waiver: What Parents Should Know

FIDE has extended its rating fee waiver for rapid and blitz tournaments through 2027. This does not by itself mean free entry for your child: the announcement concerns FIDE rating fees covered by federations. Parents should still check the organiser’s entry conditions and the full cost of attending an event.

What FIDE announced

FIDE confirmed the extension in its 23 October 2026 announcement, which links to its financial rules.

The scope matters. A waiver of a federation’s rating charge is not a promise that an organiser will remove a participant’s entry fee. The announcement does not tell you what a particular tournament in Chennai, Bengaluru or elsewhere will charge.

Check the event’s actual costs

Before paying for an entry, read the current tournament notice and ask the organiser to clarify anything missing. A useful checklist is:

• What is the entry fee for your child’s section, and what does it include?

• Are any separate registrations or memberships required?

• Are there late-entry charges or a published refund policy?

• Will travel, food or accommodation add to the day’s cost?

• Who can confirm the event’s rating status and eligibility requirements?

These are questions to ask, not charges that necessarily apply to every event. Keep the organiser’s answer or published notice so you can compare the same items across events. Do not assume a social-media headline about a fee waiver describes the total amount your family will pay.

A lower cost does not decide whether the format suits your child

Look at the time control and timetable alongside the price. A child who is still working out legal moves may find a fast game frustrating, even if the event is convenient. Ask whether they can finish a practice game using the proposed clock settings without needing someone to tell them what to do.

Try the format at home before committing to a full tournament day. Watch whether your child can make a move, press the clock and stay calm when time becomes short. Our beginner guide to using a chess clock can help you practise that routine.

Keep the first tournament goal manageable

For a new player, a useful goal might be to complete the games independently, ask an arbiter for help appropriately and bring back one position to discuss. A cheaper entry is welcome, but it should not create pressure to win a prize or gain a rating immediately.

Use our first tournament checklist to prepare for the day. If you are unsure which skills your child should practise first, book a free Project64 online demo and discuss their current level with the team. Confirm any particular tournament’s rules and charges directly with its organiser.