Sunday 19 / May / 2024
MUSCAT: The world’s best amateur chess players are among the more than 400 participants who have arrived in Muscat ahead of the start of the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championships for Open and Women 2023.
Players get into action at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex (SQSC) from Thursday and the nine round event will conclude on November 10.
The prestigious world tournament will be formally inaugurated at the SQSC on Thursday. Organised by the Oman Chess Committee under the auspices of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), a total of 427 players from 64 countries will be in action during the tournament where a total of six titles in three categories are at stake.
The opening ceremony on Thursday will be presided over by Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Culture, in the presence of Asian and International chess federations’ representatives
There are a total of 354 male and 73 female participants and among the countries represented are Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bahrain, Belgium, China, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Morocco, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Palestine, Mongolia, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Slovakia, Sweden, Syria, Taipei, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and, hosts Oman.
The tournament adopts a Swiss system format, played over nine rounds. Each round provides players with a 90-minute time frame, with an additional 30 seconds allotted for each move. This intense competition will be supervised by 19 international referees, chaired by Malaysian Abdul Hamid bin Abdul Majid. The referees’ committee has members hailing from Iran, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Oman, contributing a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds.
The championship isn't solely about chess; it also offers a vibrant cultural and entertainment tapestry. These include immersive excursions, enabling participants to explore the rich cultural heritage of Oman. An international coaching course will also run in parallel with the tournament, aiming to promote and enrich the cultural aspect of the game. Additionally, the committee has arranged daily activities for schools and children in the morning, with the goal of engaging approximately 100 children each day.
Notably, 95 percent of the individuals involved in organising the tournament are Omanis, adding a distinct local touch to the event.
The 2023 FIDE World Amateur Chess Championship shines as one of the year's most prominent sporting events, attracting the presence of distinguished heads of Arab and international chess federations.
The tournament is expected to be graced by the President of the International Chess Federation and the Asian Chess Federation.
The event promises to be a celebration of the global chess community, uniting players and enthusiasts from diverse corners of the world in a celebration of intellect, strategy, and the joy of the game.
School Chess Festival to be held along with world championships
The Oman Chess Committee, in cooperation with the Oman School Sports Association will host the School Chess Festival from Thursday.
The event, coincides with the start of the FIDE World Amateur Chess Championships, is expected to attract more than 1,000 male and female students from first-grade classes, representing nine educational directorates across the governorates.
The School Chess Festival will be held in the educational directorates in the governorates of Al Dakhiliyah, Al Dhahirah, Al Buraimi, Dhofar, Al Sharqiyah South, Al Sharqiyah North, Muscat and Al Batinah North.
The festival is designed with a multifaceted mission, aiming to strengthen national identity and foster a sense of loyalty among participants. Its core objective is to propagate the game of chess and instill it as a valuable pastime. Furthermore, the festival seeks to nurture students' cognitive abilities, stimulate their creative and innovative thinking, and encourage a distinctive approach to the thought process.
In addition to its primary goals, the festival offers a plethora of accompanying activities, ranging from engaging face-painting sessions to captivating artistic and visual performances. The programme also features captivating plays, enthralling student performances, and a diverse array of competitions. These diverse activities are thoughtfully planned to provide participants with a unique and immersive introduction to the game of chess, making it an enjoyable and enlightening experience for all involved.
