The World Non-Professional Chess Championship (WNCC) brings together players worldwide to compete for the title of World Non-Professional Chess Champion.
Founded by Shahin Novrasli, WNCC is built on a simple idea: world-class competition should not be limited to professional chess players.
Participation is open to adults whose primary professional activity is outside chess, with no rating requirement. Men and women compete together in two separate age categories: 18–35 years and 35 years and over.
Players from the two age categories compete separately and do not play against each other.
The Championship progresses through the World Online Qualification, World Pre-Final and WNCC World Final.
Advancing players may be required to verify their identity, age and professional status through supporting documentation, solely to confirm eligibility and in accordance with WNCC’s eligibility verification procedure and privacy policy.
The WNCC World Online Qualification is the first competitive stage of the Championship, open to eligible players worldwide.
Participation is limited to 10,000 players worldwide.
Format: Swiss system
Rounds: 9 — one round per day
Time control: 60 minutes per player
Platform: Online
The 64 qualified players will advance to the WNCC World Pre-Final.
Advancement is subject to WNCC’s eligibility and fair-play requirements.
The WNCC World Pre-Final brings together players who advance from the World Online Qualification.
Players: 64
Format: Swiss system
Rounds: 9 — one round per day
Time control: 90 minutes per player
Platform: Online
At the conclusion of the nine rounds, the Top 8 players will qualify for the WNCC World Final (Host city to be announced).
Final places are subject to eligibility and fair-play verification.
The World Final is played as a knockout championship:
Quarterfinals: 8 → 4 players — 2 classical games per match
Semifinals: 4 → 2 players — 4 classical games per match
World Championship Final: 2 players — 6 classical games
If a match ends in a tie, the winner will be determined through rapid tiebreaks and, if necessary, blitz.
The World Final will include the arrival and accreditation of the finalists, Opening Ceremony, competition rounds, Closing Ceremony and Awards. The detailed schedule will be announced according to venue, broadcasting, player and partner requirements.
The $100 entry fee covers participation in the World Online Qualification and the opportunity to advance to the World Final.
Entry fees support championship operations, technology, verification and fair-play measures.
The Top 8 World Finalists pay no additional entry fee. WNCC covers:
Personal expenses remain the participant’s responsibility.
WNCC is planned to offer a significant prize fund reflecting the international status of the Championship.
The player who wins the first game of Stage I will receive an official WNCC Participation Diploma and complimentary access to all concerts at the 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the Shahin Novrasli Festival.
An independent Fair Play Committee will oversee competition integrity, with particular attention to the online stages.
Measures may include identity and eligibility checks, game monitoring, anti-cheating technology, statistical analysis, video verification and specialist review of suspicious games.
World Final qualifiers must complete full verification before their places are confirmed. Additional security and anti-cheating measures will apply at the live final.
Participants who violate eligibility or fair-play requirements may be disqualified.
WNCC connects chess with the stories of its players — engineers, artists, surgeons, entrepreneurs, educators and others from around the world.
The digital experience will include player profiles, live games and standings, streaming and commentary, interviews, tournament reports, social media coverage and an interactive world map of participants, bringing WNCC to audiences beyond the traditional chess community.
WNCC’s organizational structure includes the WNCC Board and dedicated committees and teams overseeing competition, eligibility, fair play, appeals, event operations and sponsorship.
WNCC welcomes partners across finance, technology, telecommunications, aviation, hospitality, healthcare, education and other industries, connecting brands with an international community of players from diverse professional backgrounds.
Opportunities include title and official partnerships, broadcast and digital integration, venue branding, social media campaigns, VIP hospitality and corporate chess events.
WNCC also offers opportunities for business networking and international professional connections, bringing together participants, partners and organizations from around the world.
WNCC is envisioned as an annual international championship, with potential expansion through continental and regional qualifications, national partnerships, online events, corporate tournaments and new formats.
Its long-term ambition is to become a global chess platform and international community, establishing a new category in international chess for adults pursuing competitive chess alongside careers outside the professional game.