Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival has drawn more than 1,000 players from 54 countries

The 28th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Festival gets underway at the Radisson Blu Hotel from August 16.

The 11-day tournament under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of both the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and Abu Dhabi Sports Council has drawn over 1,000 players from 54 countries.
The event for a prize fund of Dh300,000 is staged under the supervision of Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club.
The organizing committee of the festival headed by Hussain Abdullah Al Khoury announced the details in a press conference held at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council headquarters on Wednesday.
Present at the occasion were Talal Mustafa Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of the Judges Committee, and Bernard O'Neill, Director of the Radisson Blu Hotel Abu Dhabi.
The competition consists of 11 different categories that include the Masters Championship, age group competition and a blitz tournament.
In addition, for the second successive year the organisers will conduct the First Line of Defence Championship for those working in the health sector, police and the defence services. It’s an event held in appreciation of their exceptional efforts to ensure the safety of the society during the pandemic.