Abu Dhabi, Dec. 12 (WAM) — Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Asian Amateur Chess Championship will kick off Sunday 15th December, with the participation of a record 33 countries.
The tournament will be held at Danat Al Ain Hotel from 14 to 23 December, and is organized by the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, in cooperation with the UAE Chess Federation, and supervised by the Asian Chess Federation, and includes 8 tournaments, four for the standard chess, and two for each of the rapid and blitz chess.
These details were revealed during a press conference held 12 December at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel, in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation and President of Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, His Excellency Arif Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Hisham Al Taher, Managing Director and CEO of the club and General Secretary of the Asian Chess Federation, and Mahdi Abdul Rahim, Executive Director of the UAE Chess Federation and Chief Arbiter of the Asian Amateur.
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan stressed that the tournament is a unique opportunity to enhance the position of chess as a tool to promote creative thinking and build bridges of communication between various Asian cultures in a competitive atmosphere full of passion and ambition.
He also praised the efforts made by the Ministry of Sports, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and all partners in the public and private sectors, which contribute to sports development.
Arif Al Awani said that the presence of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council reflects its keenness to support sports in general and individual games in particular, as chess is more than just a game, as it is a means to develop mental skills and promote positive values such as strategic thinking, patience and planning.
Mahdi Abdul Rahim pointed to the importance of the tournament in enhancing the competitiveness of UAE players through contact with various participants from Asian countries, praising the efforts of the Asian Chess Federation in spreading the game and organizing tournaments.
Hisham El Taher announced a record participation in the tournament from 33 countries representing Asia, the Australian subcontinent and the South Pacific, the highest number since the tournament began in 2010.
He revealed that prize money worth AED 100,000 has been allocated, in addition to daily draws and prizes for the public through the club’s digital platforms.
He explained that in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the club’s establishment, the Al Ain Super Grand Electronic Chess Championship will be organized, with prizes of up to USD 65,000.