Doha, February 18 (QNA) – The second edition of the Ramadan Blitz Chess Championship, organized by the Qatar Chess Association and the Doha Youth Center, will begin Thursday, with the participation of 70 players.

The internationally rated tournament aims to promote chess in Qatar and provide a strong competitive platform for players during the holy month of Ramadan.

The tournament will feature strong participation from internationally rated players, raising the level of competition.

The tournament will begin at 9:00 PM at the Friends of the Environment Center.

The competition will be held according to the Swiss system over nine rounds, with a time control of three minutes per player plus two seconds per move.

According to the tournament rules, participation is open to all age groups of players holding a FIDE ID.

The organizing committee has allocated valuable prizes for the top five finishers, in addition to special awards for the best male and female players from Qatar, and the best Qatari players in the under-16 and under-12 categories, to encourage local talent and support their development in the game.

In remarks, Hamad Al-Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association, confirmed that holding the second edition of the tournament follows the success of the first edition last year, particularly in terms of the level of participation. He emphasized the Association's commitment to building partnerships with various entities and institutions in the country and organizing a number of tournaments to promote chess culture in the community. (QNA)