Manchester City Open in Coimbatore Draws 403 Players

The largest field among October’s notable Asian events was the 1st MANCHESTER CITY International Open FIDE Rated in Coimbatore, India. It drew 403 players to a five-day classical event from October 17 to 21, run by Veer Chess Academy.

Close behind was the Nexchess International Open Fide Rating Chess in New Delhi, with 400 players. It ran October 7 to 11 at a banquet venue on Lawerence Road.

Nine-day events

Three events stretched to nine days. The «Atyrau Open 2026» (Masters) in Kazakhstan ran October 12 to 20 with 113 players, organized by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.

In Chennai, the 1st Chola Chess Open International Grandmasters began October 30 at a hotel on Cathedral Road and runs to November 7. It had 85 players registered.

The 2026-10-30 Al Oruba Club Fide Rated Open in Juffair, Bahrain, covers the same dates, October 30 to November 7, with 58 players.

Azerbaijan and the Caucasus

Azerbaijan hosted two week-long festivals. The Ganja Open 2026 International Chess Festival ran October 12 to 18 at the Ganja Sports Palace and listed 137 players. A second section of the same festival, listed separately, had 47.

The Shirvan Open 2026 - 2nd International Chess followed from October 20 to 26 at the Shirvan Olympic Sports Complex, with 116 players. In Armenia, the Tsaghkadzor Open 2026 (Group B) ran October 24 to 30 in the Kotayk region and had 135.

More Indian opens

India supplied several other large classical fields. The Eight Square Chess Academy - 3rd International in Chennai drew 209 players over October 7 to 11. The 2nd CPPF Open International Fide Rated Chess in Jalpaiguri began October 28 and ran into November, with 239 players.

The 7th SSS International Below 1800 Rated in Pudukkottai ran October 30 to November 1 and drew 291.

National and regional events

Sri Lanka held two youth championships. The Sri Lanka National Youth Chess Championship 2026 in Mathugama drew 168 players on October 17 and 18. The National Youth Chess Championship 2026 in Monaragala started October 31 with 103.

In Bangladesh, the 50th National Chess Championship - 2026, Zone 2 was held in Chattogram from October 8 to 12 with 52 players.

Iran’s Gilan Paeez Cup 1405 in Rasht ran October 27 to 30 with 170 players. In Malaysia, the Sabah Elite Chess Championship 2026 opened October 30 at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu with 118.

Smaller fields included Hong Kong’s National Day Chess Festival 2026 (FIDE Rated), which had 53 players over four days from October 1. Bangkok hosted 3rd The Rooky International Open 2026 with 38 players, and a second section with 30.