Expo’s Knowledge and Learning Week: Get free Spanish lessons, meet world’s best female chess player at Spain Pavilion

A lot is happening at the Spain Pavilion this Sunday, with the launch of the next Expo theme week. Starting from December 12 to 18, Knowledge and Learning Week is just the right time for Spain to put chess at the top of its list of attractions. We're celebrating women in chess, meeting Judit Polgár - the Hungarian chess grandmaster - and getting free Spanish lessons throughout the week.

WOMEN GRANDMASTERS OF CHESS: On December 11, five chess grandmasters - Russia's Polina Shuvalova and Leya Garifullina, Kazakhstan's Zhansaya Abdumalik, India's Tania Sachdev (pictured) and Hungary's Judit Polgár - are all touching down at the Spain Pavilion for a match against 20 participants. They will play simultaneously, making one move each in every game. The heated game celebrates women in chess; grab snacks and sit down for a fascinating display of intellect in the presence of masterminds, running from 3 to 4.30pm.

SPANISH LESSONS: From 12 to 18 of December, Expo visitors will have the opportunity to learn the Spanish language with micro-lessons from 11am to 1pm, everyday; and from December 12 to 15 from 4 to 7pm. Classes will be taught by teachers from the Spanish School of Abu Dhabi and the Spanish Teachers Association in the UAE (APEAU).

GYMCHESS APP: Techies can also stick around till 2pm on December 12 to witness the launch of a chess-based smartphone app. Designed by the tech start-up GYMCHESS, the app is a cognitive training programme that uses chess to fight Alzheimer’s and keep the brain healthy.

MEET THE AUTHOR OF 'WOMAGIS': From December 16 to 18, award-winning author Marta Villegas is going to carry out a series of fun activities based on her bestseller children's book 'Womagis', from 4 to 7pm. Head down to the pavilion with the little ones on these days.

TALK BY JUDIT POLGÁR: The only woman in the top ten chess player rankings, Judit Polgár will chat about the game in the context of education at the Spain Pavilion, on December 16. Polgár became a chess grandmaster at the age of 15, and is considered the best female chess player of all time.