GENERAL REGULATIONS & RULES 

1.       The World Championships Under 7, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 & U-17 (hereinafter referred to as “WC”) shall be governed by the General Regulations for FIDE Competitions.

2.       WC is organized under the aegis of the Events Commission (hereinafter referred to as “EVE”).

3.       The competition should be held every year between 20^th October and 5^th November.

4.       Priority table for the event:

5.       If the 2026 or 2027 bids from Asian, African or American federations are not considered acceptable according to FIDE EVE standards, the competition can be organized in Europe instead.

6.       If the 2028 bids from European federations are not considered acceptable according to FIDE EVE standards, the competition can be organized in Asian, African or American federations instead.

7.       FIDE EVE is entitled to change the continental priority principle.

PARTICIPATION 

8.       There shall be 6 categories; namely Under-7, U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15 & U-17 with separate events for Open and Girls.

9.       All chess players who have not reached the age of 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 or 17 before January 1^st of the year in which the WC is held are eligible to participate.

10.     Each FIDE member federation shall have the right to send one participant per category with the free board and lodging provided (see art. 15).

The said players shall include (provided they agree to participate) the medalists of the previous year's World Championship and the previous year's Continental champions belonging to that federation. If they decline to participate, the federation has the right to nominate other players.

11.     FIDE member federations shall have the right to send as many players as they wish.

SCHEDULE AND SYSTEM 

12.     WC will be a 11-round Swiss system tournament.

13.     The time control is 60 minutes for each player plus 30 seconds per move starting from move one, or 45 minutes for each player plus 30 seconds per move starting from move one. The final decision must be made by the FIDE EVE Commission. The default time is 30 minutes.

14.     The ranking is determined by the number of points. The tie-breaks are:

• Direct Encounter (only if all tied have played each other)
• Buchholz Cut 1
• Buchholz
• The greater number of games played with black
• The greater number of wins
• Drawing of lots

FINANCIAL REGULATIONS 

15.    The Organizing Committee shall provide free board and lodging (in twin-share rooms) for players mentioned in Rule 10 above as well as for one accompanying official per federation provided he or she holds a FIDE ID. 

Annex 1 – FIDE Regulations

Relevant FIDE Regulations can be found here:

FIDE Laws of Chess:

https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/E012023

General Regulations for FIDE Competitions:

https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/D0401202312

Captains and Heads of Delegation:

https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/CaptainsHeadsDelegation

Appeals Committee Procedural Rules:

https://handbook.fide.com/chapter/AppealsCommitteeProceduralRules

Fair Play Protection Measures:

https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/FPL_Protection_Measures_2024.pdf

Bid Evaluation:

https://events.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/8.-Bids-Evaluation-Criteria-with-Points.pdf