ABU DHABI: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the 30th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival at the St. Regis Corniche Hotel. The event, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, is organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games. This year, over 2,200 players from 82 countries are participating in 27 events, including new tournaments for government institutions and schools.

The festival features competitions for international masters, open tournaments, age categories under 8 to 16, and blitz tournaments for all, including juniors. There are also contests for family teams, community teams, academies, institutions, people of determination, and schools for both genders aged 9 to 17. National teams from the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, and China are among the participants.

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The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Hamid Al Qasimi, President of the Arab Chess Federation, Tarim Mattar, President of the UAE Chess Federation, Hussein Abdullah Al Khouri, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games, and Ahmed Al Balushi, President of the Oman Chess Committee.