On May 17th the FIDE President arrived to Muscat, Oman, to participate in the opening ceremony of the Asian 3.1. Zonal Chess Championship, which is being held from May 16th to May 25th.
At the opening ceremony, also present were Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhoof Al Saadi, the Minister of Sports Affairs of Oman, Mr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Zubair, the President of Olympic Committee of Oman, GM Mohamed Al Modiahiki, the Zonal President of FIDE Zone 3.1. Thirty two players from thirteen Arabian countries arrived to Muscat to compete in the tournament.

Before the opening of the tournament, FIDE President visited the Royal Opera House Muscat, the biggest house of Gulf.


Signing in the guest book of the Royal Opera House Muscat

Meeting with Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardhoof Al Saadi, the Minister of Sport Affairs of Oman


Playing chess while checking the tournament hall

The tournament is held in the City Seasons Hotel

Interview for the local sport newspaper


FIDE President received a present from the Minister of Sport Affairs of Oman

The Minister of Sport Affairs of Oman said that he is good at chess. The FIDE President decided to check the chess skills of the Minister and it turned out to be the truth.


FIDE President also presented a souvenir to the Minister of Sport Affairs of Oman

The first move in the open section was made at the board of the strongest GM Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (right) from Iran


And in the women’s section at the board of the former Women’s World Chess Champion GM Zhu, Chen (right) from Qatar 

Signing the Memorandum of cooperation between FIDE and Oman Chess Committee

Women section

Open section