Twelve teams to participate in Muscat Schools Chess Champions League

MUSCAT: The Muscat School Chess Champions League, to be organised by French School of Muscat and the International Chess Academy of Oman, has received huge response with as many as 12 teams confirming participation in the inaugural event.

The tournament is scheduled to be held at the French School of Muscat on Saturday.

According to Ismael Karim, head coach of International Chess Academy of Oman (ICAO), British School of Muscat, Madinat Al Sultan Qabooz Private School, French School of Muscat and other citybased schools have already confirmed their participation.

“The Muscat School Chess Champions League is a team event the like of which has never been organised in Oman and it is a wonderful occasion for the kids to compete against other and test their skills,” he said.

“Many kids are practicing chess in the different chess clubs and as after school activities but the lack of competitions makes them choose other sport where platforms are better organised and tournaments are regularly held to practice the activities that they cherish!,” he added.

“We would like to build on this first edition to make sure that next year we can include more teams from more cities,” Ismael Kari, who is also an International Master, said.

The nine-round tournament will be on Swiss system and the first round games will start at 9.30 a.m. after the speeches by

ICAO chairman Ameer Abullah Al Raisi and French School of Muscat Principal Yves Martel.

The organisers, meanwhile, thanked the sponsors Zawawi Group, Newrest Wacasco, Al Alawi & Co and Air France KLM as well as the Ministry of Education for supporting the event.

Full story @ timesofoman.com/sports