I ndian grandmaster and fivetime World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand will attend the FIDE Centennial Celebration to be held in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi was chosen as the venue for the 100th anniversary celebration as it has become the capital of global sporting events, enhancing its position after winning the bid to host the 2028 World Chess Olympiad. The 47th Chess Olympiad is scheduled to take place between October 28 and November 11, 2028, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
As part of the celebrations, the authorities will organise exhibition matches in Marina Mall where Egyptian grandmaster Ahmed Adly will play simultaneously against 15 chess players.
Similarly, another simultaneous game will be played between the Qatari Federation president and grandmaster, Mohammed Al Mudahka, and 15 chess players.
There will also be a torch relay, a tradition that the Fide 100-year ceremony has carried out across regions around the world. Moving from 12 global chess capitals starting from Chennai, Paris, Abu Dhabi and Bucharest, which will host the 2024 Chess Olympiad.
“Abu Dhabi is glad to host the Fide 100 years ceremony and to be part of the 12 capitals around the world that got this honour,” Hussein Khoori, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club, told the Khaleej Times.
Fide turned 100 on July 20, and to celebrate its 100th anniversary, it has called upon chess players and federations to participate in a world record for the largest number of chess games played in a day.
Chess clubs around the Emirates responded to this call and took part with 2104 chess games, contributing to the international record.
“We have responded to Fide’s call by organising a tournament with 168 players from 19 different countries,” said Saeed Khouri, Abu Dhabi Chess Club’s chief executive. Saeed Yousuf Shakari, secretary general of Dubai Chess Club, also hailed the centenary celebrations in the UAE.
