Doha: The Katara International Ramadan Open Classical Chess Championship, organized by the Qatar Chess Association, commenced on Friday and will continue until March 1. Eighty-six players from different age groups are participating in the event.

According to Qatar News Agency, Deputy General Manager of the Katara Cultural Village Foundation, Saif Saad Al Dosari, made the inaugural move on the first board in the presence of Hamad Al Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Federation. The championship's first round followed a nine-round classical chess format based on the Swiss system, with each player having 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Several participants are ranked on the International Chess Federation (FIDE) list.

The tournament offers a total prize purse of QAR 25,000, with the first-place winner receiving QAR 5,000. Additional prizes will be awarded to the top ten finishers. There are also special prizes for the best Qatari players in various age categories and for players from the Qatar Chess Federation's training center.

Among the competitors are numerous members of the Qatari national team, representing all age groups. Hamad Al Tamimi expressed his enthusiasm about the tournament's opening atmosphere and the strong participation across age groups. He highlighted the expected fierce competition and the valuable experience it offers to the players, particularly with the presence of many highly ranked participants.

The Katara Chess Championship is one of the most significant events on the Qatar Chess Association's calendar, held annually during Ramadan. It has played a crucial role in showcasing promising talents in previous editions and has provided substantial support to the national teams across all age groups.