| 2019 Belt and Road China Yuecheng Shaoxing International Women Chess Open kicked off |
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| Monday, 08 July 2019 11:00 |
 Jian Hu One Courtyard Cup 2019 Belt and Road China Yuecheng Shaoxing International Women Chess Open kicked off on July 8 2019 in Xianheng Hotel Shaoxing city (China). This event is organized by the Board and Card Games Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China, Chinese Chess Association and the People's Government of Yuecheng District Shaoxing City. 34 players from 9 countries, including 8 GMs and 4 former women world champions, compete for the total prize of $119,000 in a 9-round swiss system. The champion will get $40,000.  Mr. Yuan Jian, Chief of the People's Government of Yuecheng District, Shaoxing made a speech to welcome all the players. Mr. Zhou Baolin, Deputy Secretary General of Shaoxing Municipal People's Government also made a speech to invite players to visit Shaoxing, the city of profound culture at the spare time and he hoped to organize this tournament next year again. Mr. Victor Bologan, the Executive Director of FIDE, attended the opening ceremony. On behalf of FIDE, Bologan extended the congratulations on Shaoxing Yuecheng District for hosting this exciting event. He said that "the Shaoxing Yuecheng women's Open is the highest-level women open competition in the world. I am very happy to see the spread of chess and chess culture around the world. I hope Shaoxing will hold more chess competitions and events in the future". Mr. Ge Feng, the Deputy Director General of Board and Card Games Administrative Center of General Administration of Sport of China, delivered a speech and announced the opening of the event. 
   Shaoxing city is one of the famous historical cities in China. Numerous accomplished scholars or figures were born or lived here. This city is also a typical ancient water town, known as Venice of China, with abundant waterways and more than 4000 stone bridges of various styles and sizes. During the competition, the organizer will arrange for the players to visit Shaoxing city and experience the profound cultural heritage and rich cultural landscape. 
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