By registering for the Battle of 64 Chess Championship you confirm you have read, understood, and accept these Terms & Conditions, the Anti-Cheat Policy, and the Privacy Notice. Winners may be subject to KYC and anti-cheat review before prizes are released.
1.1 “Participant” means any person who registers and participates in the Tournament.
1.2 “Winner” means any Participant awarded a prize in accordance with Appendix A. Winners are “Provisional Winners” until anti-cheat & KYC verification are completed.
1.3 Youth Categories – Age-based categories (U7, U10, U13) as listed on the Event Page. Age determination for these categories is made strictly in line with the rules set out in Section 2.3 of this document.
1.4 Best Female Prize – A special prize awarded to the highest-scoring female Participant who is eligible under the conditions defined in Section 2.4.
1.5 Best Female Prize – A special prize awarded to the highest-scoring female Participant who is eligible under the conditions defined in Section 2.4.
1.6 “Masterclass Voucher” means a discount or free seat for GM Srinath’s Masterclass as described in Appendix A; vouchers are non-transferable unless explicitly stated.
1.7 “NET amount” or “NET” refers to the prize amount shown on the public Prize Table. NET is the amount to be received by the winner before any government tax/withholding that the law requires. NET amounts are published on the website.
1.8 “KYC” means government ID and bank/transfer information required to process prize payouts.
2. Eligibility & categories
2.1 The Tournament is open to individuals worldwide except where prohibited by local law. By registering, Participants confirm they are eligible to receive prizes in their country and will comply with any applicable tax or legal requirements.
2.2 Participants aged under 18 must register with a parent/guardian’s consent. Parent/guardian contact details must be provided and will be used for consent and prize verification if the Participant wins.
2.3 Age calculation and Youth category eligibility
Age eligibility for all Youth Categories will be determined with reference to 1 January 2026. A Participant is eligible for an “Under X” category if they have not reached their Xth birthday before that date. Accordingly:
Under 7 (U7): born on or after 01 January 2018
Under 10 (U10): born on or after 01 January 2015
Under 13 (U13): born on or after 01 January 2012
The Organizer reserves the right to request documentary proof of age for any Youth Participant. Accepted documents include birth certificates issued by a civic authority or other government-issued proof of date of birth.
2.4 Best Female Prize (18+ category)
Eligibility for the Best Female prize is restricted to female Participants who are 18 years of age or older as of 1 January 2026. Concretely, this means female Participants must have been born on or before 01 January 2007. The Organizer may require government-issued proof of both age and gender before awarding this prize.
2.5 Veteran Prize (55+ category)
Eligibility for the Veteran prize is restricted to Participants who are 55 years of age or older as of 1 January 2026. Concretely, this means Participants must have been born on or before 01 January 1970. The Organizer may require government-issued proof of age before awarding this prize.
2.6 The Organizer may refuse registration or disqualify Participants who are subject to sanctions or restrictions in their jurisdiction.
3. Registration & account rules
3.1 Registration must be completed via the official Tournament registration page. All fields marked mandatory must be completed accurately. False information may result in disqualification.
3.2 Participants must provide a valid email and mobile number. Winners will be contacted at the submitted contact details; it is the Participant’s responsibility to ensure accuracy.
3.3 Participants must provide their Lichess username at registration. Lichess username will be used for verification and pairing. Participants who do not have a Lichess account must create one prior to the Tournament.
3.4 Account age & activity requirement (eligibility): For prize eligibility the Organizer strongly recommends that Lichess usernames be at least 60 days old and have a minimum of 50 games in the relevant time control. Organizer reserves the right to disqualify accounts that fail verification or which appear to have been created to circumvent fairness mechanisms. Organizer may, at its sole discretion, waive or modify these thresholds for bona fide cases.
3.5 Each registered Participant must use only one account. Sharing or collusion (multiple accounts, account delegation) is strictly prohibited.
4. Tournament format & time controls
4.1 Format:
The Tournament will be conducted in Arena format hosted on Lichess. All participants play simultaneously within the specified time window. Pairings are generated automatically by the Arena system based on player availability and ongoing results.
4.2 Time control:
The official time control is 3+0 Blitz — each player has 3 minutes for the entire game, with no increment.
4.3 Arena rules:
Pairings are continuous. Once a game finishes, players are immediately paired again if time remains in the Arena.
Wins earn more points than draws/losses. Streaks (two consecutive wins) may grant additional bonus points as per Arena rules.
The leaderboard is determined by total points accumulated during the Arena time window.
If players are tied on points at the end, the Organizer may apply tie-break rules (see Section 8).
4.4 Duration:
The exact Arena duration is of 60 minutes (1 Hour)
4.5 Participant responsibility:
Players must ensure they are online and available for the entire Arena duration. Late arrivals may join late but will have fewer rounds to accumulate points.
5. Anti-cheat, monitoring & review process
5.1 The Organizer employs both automated fair-play detection tools and manual review processes. All games are subject to anti-cheat analysis.
5.2 The Organizer will perform automated analyses and may flag accounts or games for manual review. The Organizer may require further evidence (game logs, technical details) and may request Participants to re-play or participate in additional checks.
5.3 All winners are provisional until the Organizer completes anti-cheat analysis and KYC (see Section 7). The Organizer will withhold distribution of cash prizes pending this review. The usual review period is 5–7 calendar days.
5.4 Any Participant found to have used engine assistance, colluded with others, impersonated another player, or otherwise breached the rules will be disqualified and may be banned from future Organizer events. Disqualified Participants forfeit any prize.
6. Prize distribution & vouchers (NET amounts)
6.1 The official Prize Table (NET amounts) is published in Appendix A to these Terms and on the event webpage. Public prize amounts shown are NET amounts (the amounts winners will receive subject to required legal withholdings).
6.2 Prize amounts will be paid in INR (Indian Rupees) or transferred in an equivalent currency by mutual agreement. Winners choose preferred payout method from the methods offered (see Section 7). Any currency conversion fees, transfer fees or taxes may be deducted as required (see Section 7.8).
6.3 Voucher and discount prizes for GM Srinath’s Masterclass are redeemable as set out in Appendix A and are subject to voucher terms (see Section 7.6). Masterclass vouchers are not exchangeable for cash unless explicitly stated.
7. Prize acceptance, KYC & payout process
7.1 Winners will be notified by email and/or phone. Winners must respond and supply required KYC/payout details within 7 calendar days of notification or their prize may be forfeited. Failure to respond within the stated period is a forfeit of the prize, at Organizer’s discretion.
7.2 Required KYC/documentation may include: government-issued photo ID (passport, national ID, driver’s license), proof of age (for youth winners), bank account details (or PayPal/Payoneer/Wise/UPI), and any tax documentation required under applicable law.
7.3 Payment methods available: UPI/NEFT/IMPS for Indian winners; Wise / Payoneer / PayPal / bank wire for international winners. Organizer will provide a secure claim form for winners to submit details.
7.4 Processing timeline: Once anti-cheat review and KYC are complete, the Organizer will initiate payouts within 7 (seven) business days. Banks and payment providers may take additional time to settle funds (typical transfer time varies by country and method).
7.5 Fees & deductions: The Organizer displays NET prize amounts publicly. However, winners are responsible for any taxes, duties, withholding or legal charges in their jurisdiction. Payment processors may levy transfer or currency conversion fees; such fees may be deducted from the gross payout depending on the payout method and the Organizer’s chosen payment process. The Organizer will notify winners in advance of any such deductions. Organizer may, at its sole discretion, absorb certain fees but is not obligated to do so.
7.6 Voucher terms: Masterclass vouchers / discounts are governed by additional voucher terms: redemption window (normally valid for 6 months from issuance unless otherwise stated), one voucher per winning Participant, cannot be combined with other offers (unless Organizer states otherwise), and may be subject to Masterclass seat availability. Vouchers are non-transferable unless explicitly stated.
7.7 Prize forfeiture: If a winner is disqualified after anti-cheat review, the prize will be awarded to the next eligible Participant per the roll-down rules (Section 8). If the next eligible Participant cannot be contacted or fails KYC, the prize will be handled in accordance with Organizer policy
7.8 Taxes: Winners must comply with their country’s tax laws. Organizer will comply with Indian tax laws, and where required by law, may withhold tax before paying the prize or issue necessary tax documentation. Winners must provide tax IDs where requested.
8.1 Standings — Lichess Arena scoring is authoritative.
Final tournament standings for the Arena event are determined by the Lichess Arena scoring system and the official Lichess leaderboard export. Arena points, streak bonuses, berserk bonuses and other Arena-specific scoring rules as implemented by Lichess apply. The official Lichess leaderboard/export file is the primary source for ranking and payout decisions.
8.2 Tie-breaks — Lichess’ internal resolution first.
If two or more Participants finish with equal Arena points, the Organizer will adopt Lichess’ internal tie-break resolution (as shown in the official Lichess leaderboard/export) as the controlling ranking for prize allocation. Because Lichess’ tie-break computation is derived from recorded games and opponents on the platform, Lichess’ final ranking is binding for prize determination unless a demonstrable platform error is shown.
8.3 Remedial measures if Lichess does not resolve a tie.
If the Lichess export does not resolve a tie (for example, identical exported ranking values or missing platform data), the Organizer may at its sole discretion apply one remedial measure to determine prize allocation, including but not limited to:
a short playoff match (organiser-controlled rapid Arena or head-to-head game) between tied Participants; or
an objective metric computed from tournament games (e.g., higher number of wins, head-to-head result if available, or average performance rating); or
splitting or rolling down the prize as set out in Section 8.4.
Any remedial measure chosen will be communicated to affected Participants and the Organizer’s decision will be final and binding.
8.4 Single highest cash prize rule & roll-down (strict).
A Participant who is eligible for more than one cash prize will be awarded only one cash prize — specifically the single highest cash prize to which they are entitled. All other lower cash prizes that the Participant would otherwise occupy will roll down to the next eligible Participant(s) in the official Lichess ranking order (as resolved under Sections 8.1–8.3). For example, if a Participant is both 4th overall and 1st in a youth category, they will receive only the higher cash award (the single highest cash prize); the lower cash prize will be awarded to the next eligible player in that category.
8.5 Voucher / non-cash awards.
Non-cash awards (such as Masterclass vouchers, certificates, medals) are governed by their own redemption rules in Appendix A. Unless Appendix A or a specific prize term states otherwise, voucher/non-cash awards may be awarded in addition to the single highest cash prize. Any special rule that disallows stacking of voucher prizes with cash prizes will be stated explicitly in Appendix A.
8.6 Data source precedence & disputes.
Prize assignments and payouts will be based on the official Lichess leaderboard and tournament export (CSV/official export) as provided by Lichess. If a Participant disputes the platform export, they must raise an appeal under the Appeals procedure (Section 13) and provide clear evidence of an error in the Lichess record. Platform results that are demonstrably correct will stand.
8.7 Practical guidance for Participants.
Focus on maximizing Arena points (wins and winning streaks).
Do not assume Swiss tie-break logic (Buchholz/Sonneborn-Berger) will apply — Arena ranking logic (Lichess) controls.
If you are eligible for multiple prizes, expect to receive only the highest cash prize; check Appendix A for voucher rules.
9. Withdrawal, no-show & disqualification
9.1 Participants may withdraw by notifying the Organizer at least 24 hours before the Tournament start. Withdrawals after the Tournament starts are treated as forfeits for all scheduled games.
9.2 No-shows or late arrivals may be paired and may forfeit games per the Tournament Rules. It is the Participant’s responsibility to be ready to play at the scheduled time.
9.3 The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify Participants for violations, cheating, impersonation, use of prohibited software, abusive behaviour, or any actions that compromise the integrity of the Tournament. Disqualification may result in removal from event boards, removal of prizes, and bans from future events.
10.1 By registering, Participants grant the Organizer a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use their name, username, likeness, game replays (PGNs), country and any submitted content for promotional, marketing or editorial purposes across all media, without further consent or payment (unless the Participant opts out as permitted during registration). Organizers will indicate the publicity consent checkbox during registration.
10.2 Participants agree that their games, moves and game records are public and may be broadcast, streamed, recorded and analysed by the Organizer and third parties. Winners may be requested to participate in promotional materials and livestreams.
10.3 Any Participant who prefers to opt out of publicity must provide explicit opt-out during registration; opt-outs will be respected to the extent reasonably possible but the Organizer reserves the right to use anonymized results and non-PII data publicly.
11. Privacy & data retention
11.1 The Organizer’s Privacy Policy governs collection and use of personal data. Key points:
* The Organizer stores registration data necessary to run the Tournament (name, email, phone, Lichess username, DOB, country).
* KYC documents (IDs) are collected from winners only and are stored securely and encrypted. KYC documents will be retained only as long as necessary for legal and accounting purposes. Recommended retention: up to 7 years for KYC docs and up to 2 years for general registration data unless legal obligations require longer retention.
* Marketing opt-in is unchecked by default; Organizer will contact registrants only if consented.
11.2 When sharing data with third-party platforms (e.g., payment processors), Organizer will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. Participants are responsible for compliance with local laws concerning consent and disclosure of minor’s data; organizers will obtain parental consent for minors.
11.3 Questions about personal data should be sent to @email.
12.1 The Tournament is delivered online. The Organizer is not responsible for: Participant internet connectivity problems, platform outages beyond Organizer control, latency, or interruptions to the Lichess platform. Organizer will use reasonable efforts to mitigate such issues but cannot guarantee uninterrupted service.
12.2 Organizer’s total liability for any claim arising out of or in connection with the Tournament shall not exceed the total prize pool amount (₹51,000) except where prohibited by law. The Organizer excludes liability for indirect or consequential loss to the maximum extent permitted by law.
12.3 Participants are responsible for their own equipment, internet connection, and compliance with tournament technical requirements. Organizer may reschedule or modify matches to accommodate technical problems at the Arbiter’s discretion.
13. Complaints, appeals & dispute resolution
13.1 If a Participant wishes to lodge a complaint about match results, conduct, or anti-cheat findings, they must submit a written appeal within 15 minutes of the occurrence of the event or within 15 minutes of the official result being posted — whichever comes first. Appeals after this window will not be accepted under any circumstances.
13.2 All appeals must be accompanied by a deposit of ₹500 (INR), paid via UPI/NEFT or other method designated by the Organizer.
If the Appeals Committee rules in favour of the appellant, the ₹500 deposit will be refunded in full.
If the appeal is rejected, the deposit is forfeited to the Organizer and will not be refunded
13.3 Appeals will be reviewed by the Organizer’s Appeals Committee (3 members, including at least one independent arbiter where possible). Decisions of the Committee are final and binding.
13.4 For serious disputes requiring external resolution, the parties agree to first attempt mediation. If mediation fails, disputes will be governed by the laws of India and resolved in the courts or arbitral forum described in Section 15.
14. Amendments, cancellation & force majeure
14.1 The Organizer may amend Tournament rules, format, schedule, time controls or prize distribution in exceptional circumstances (e.g., platform issues, legal restrictions, force majeure). Any material change will be communicated to registrants as soon as possible.
14.2 If the Tournament is cancelled due to force majeure or events outside Organizer control, Organizer will attempt to reschedule or reasonably offer alternatives. Organizer is not obliged to replicate the exact prize pool if cancellation is caused by circumstances beyond its control; refunds are not applicable as registration is free.
14.3 Force majeure includes acts of God, platform outages, government actions, pandemics, strikes, wars, or other events beyond the Organizer’s control.
15. Governing law & jurisdiction
15.1 These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute that cannot be resolved amicably shall be subject to arbitration or court proceedings in Mumbai, India, at Organizer’s discretion. Participants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts or arbitral tribunals in Mumbai for disputes not subject to arbitration.
16. Contact & support
16.1 For general enquiries, registration support or appeals: . For urgent matters contact phone/WhatsApp: +91 .
16.2 Organizer will make reasonable efforts to respond to reasonable queries within 48 working hours.
