DOHA: The Katara International Ramadan Open Classic Chess Championship will begin on Friday, organisers said, with the tournament running until March 1 and featuring 86 players across various age categories.
Organised by the Qatar Chess Federation, the nine-round classical competition will be played under the Swiss system, with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Several players listed in the FIDE rankings are set to take part.
The championship carries a total prize fund of 25,000 Qatari riyals ($6,870), with 5,000 riyals awarded to the winner. Prizes will also be distributed to the top 10 finishers, alongside special awards for the best Qatari players in several age categories and for players from the federation’s training centre.
Qatar Chess Federation President Mohammed Al Mudhahka said the Katara International Ramadan Championship is one of the key events on the federation’s annual calendar, adding that all preparations had been completed.
He said the tournament provides valuable experience for Qatari players due to the participation of highly ranked competitors.
Al Mudhahka also thanked the Cultural Village Foundation Katara for its support in ensuring the continuity of the event, stressing that the federation aims to maintain such partnerships and establish the tournament as a regular fixture to help develop national team players ahead of upcoming competitions.
