World Amateur Chess Championship 2023 is about to kick off in the Sultanate of Oman.
The World Amateur Chess Championship 2023 is set to commence on Thursday, November 2. Hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Oman Chess Committee (OCC), the competition will be held in the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher from November 1 to 11. The championship attracted 427 players from 64 countries, including 356 male players and 71 female players.
The first round of the championship will begin on November 2 under the auspices of Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
The OCC revealed its readiness from all organizational, technical, and administrative standpoints to host the World Amateur Chess Championship 2023. This announcement was made during a press conference held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, attended by OCC Chairman Ahmed bin Darwish al Balushi and various media outlets.
Ahmed al Balushi stressed the committee's commitment to creating an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike. He emphasized that partners and CEOs of sponsoring companies will sponsor the initial rounds of the championship.
The presidents of Arab, Asian, and International Chess federations will arrive in Muscat during the tournament, Al Balushi said.
The OCC chief disclosed that an array of special activities and tours had been meticulously designed to help participants explore the attractions of the Sultanate. These initiatives include an international coaching course conducted throughout the championship.
Furthermore, there will be daily activities tailored for schools and children in the morning to attract approximately 100 children daily and promote their interest in chess.
The championship will receive comprehensive coverage, both from local media and through live broadcasts on several official channels, including the International Chess Federation channel. To enhance the coverage of the championship and audience involvement, a dedicated YouTube channel has been launched. This channel will feature commentating in Arabic and English, as well as technical experts and trainers from various teams to analyze the games daily and highlight the action on top boards.
Elaborating on the championship's format, Al Balushi said it would be a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control (90 minutes + 30-second increment).
Alongside the main event, the OCC will host the School Chess Festival on November 2 in cooperation with the Oman School Sports Association. This festival targets more than 1,000 male and female students from first-grade classes representing nine educational directorates in various governorates, including Al Dakhiliyah, Al Dhahirah, Al Buraimi, Dhofar, South Al Sharqiyah, North Al Sharqiyah, Muscat, and North Al Batinah. The festival will be held at the directorate level, aiming to enhance national loyalty while encouraging chess practice for improving developmental and cognitive skills in students, stimulating creative and innovative thinking and promoting a different and distinctive way of thinking. The festival in the governorates will include various accompanying events, including face painting, children's favourite performances, visual displays, plays, student shows and diverse competitions, all with the aim of introducing chess in a unique way.
THREE CATEGORIES
The competitions in the World Amateur Chess Championship will be held in three sections.
In the '1700' rating category, 270 players, including 210 male players, are participating. In the '2000' rating category, 74 players, including 96 male players, are taking part. In the '2300' rating category, 74 players, including 69 male players, will compete. The extensive participation highlights Oman's reputation in hosting tournaments, and it reflects the vast interest and importance of the championship. As for the participating countries, according to Al Balushi, 64 are taking part, including Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bahrain, Belgium, China, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, 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, Maldives, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Palestine, Mongolia, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Slovakia, Sweden, Syria, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, and the Sultanate of Oman.
Through hosting this championship, the OCC aims to enhance the chess community in the country by attracting more players and arbiters and encouraging new clubs to join. They also aim to raise the international ranking of some of their players, contributing to the development and growth of chess in Oman.
The Oman Chess Committee is making every effort to provide a unique experience for participants and the audience and to strengthen its position as a leading global sports destination in the world of chess. Hosting the championship in Oman is a culmination of the efforts made by OCC. It reflects the confidence of the International Chess Federation in the capabilities of the OCC to organize and succeed in this global championship.
The competition is officiated by 19 international arbiters, headed by the Malaysian Abdul Hamid bin Abdul Majeed. The Omani international, Muslim al Wadhahi, was also appointed as the deputy chairman of the Arbiters Committee. The committee includes the Iranian Mehrdad as the coordination officer, in addition to members Babrzhan from Kazakhstan, Ahmed Ajmi from Egypt, Asaad Tawfiq from Iraq, Abdullah Murad from the United Arab Emirates, Khalf al Azmi from Kuwait, as well as Khaled al Hadidi, Hamdan al Hinai, Roqaya al Balushi, Sultan al Harasi, Ahmed al Kharousi, Khadija al Qasimi, Yasser al Raisi, Younes al Rashidi, Fatima al Gharibi, and Aliaa al Siyabi from Oman.
