Chess for peace: An exciting new era for all sports starts in Saudi Arabia

The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championships were opened at the iconic Apex Convention Center in Riyadh on Monday evening.

Both World Chess Federation (FIDE) and the General Sports Authority expressed their confidence that an exciting new era has started in the country for all sports.

The opening ceremony was attended by Chairman of the General Sports Authority Turki Al-Asheikh, FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos, President of the Asian Chess Federation Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, President of Confederation of Chess for Americas Jorge Vega, President of the Saudi Arabia Chess Federation Sulaiman Mottaz Abdulrahman, and FIDE CEO Geoffrey Borg.

The world’s top rated player Magnus Carlsen, the incumbent World Rapid and Blitz Champions — Sergey Karjakin (Russia) and Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) — will compete along with over 200 top players, making the King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championships one of the strongest open events of the year.

Players from 55 countries, among them 10 men out of the World Top-15 as well as 11 out the World Top-15 women are participating.

The Championships will run between Dec. 26 and 30 offering a record total prize fund of $2,000,000.

The games will start daily from 14:00 local time. Live broadcast will be available on the official website.

“FIDE motto is ‘We are one family’ and we firmly believe in this. We also believe that our sport, and especially such events, should help in developing peace and friendship among people. We would like to see the next event, here, as King Salman Peace & Friendship World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships,” said FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos.

Prior to the opening ceremony, the chief arbiter Takis Nikolopoulos, his deputies, tournament director and members of the Appeals Committee held the arbiters meeting and the technical meeting with the players.

In the drawing of lots for the first round the top rated player Magnus Carlsen chose white pieces in both events. Kateryna Lagno got black pieces for both women’s events.