Al Ain: Al Ain will host one of the biggest sporting event in recent times when the FIDE World Chess Juniors Championships kick off on Wednesday at the Emirates University building with more than 1850 competitors from 121 countries in the fray.

“Al Ain deserves to be called the world’s capital of chess,” said Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Shakhboot, the President of the Asian Chess Confederation and the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee. “We are grateful for the continuous support from our leaders and we are honoured to convey our gratitude and thanks to His Highness the President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor of the National Security Council, who made hosting such a big event possible.

“So far, the number of competitors is the biggest in the history of the FIDE [World Chess Confederation] and the total number of participants with their parents, officials and members of the different committees of the international federation will be about 4,000 persons.”

The championships, held under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, will be for the under-18, 16, 14, 12, 10 and eight for both boys and girls.

Shaikh Sultan also conveyed thanks to Shaikh Nahyan for his kind patronage to the event and to Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Society Development and the President of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW), for their support to the hosting and technical help.

“We do hope that our local players will show their best in the competitions and achieve good results.” Shaikh Sultan said.

The UAE can boast of their former player Saeed Ahmad Saeed, who won the world under-14 title in 1979 and 1981.

The opening ceremony of the event will be held on Tuesday while the competition, which starts on Wednesday, will end on December 29.