The UAE Chess Federation hosted Arab Youth chess championship for categories U8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and U20 for boys and girls at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 12-18 August 2008, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. The so-called Manazel Arab Junior Chess Festival is sponsored by Sulaiman Al Fahim group and Manazel Properties Compagny.

A record number of 186 Players are taking part in the Festival, representing 14 Arab countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen. Except for the host country which is being represented by a total number of 53 players in the various categories, each country has been allowed to be represented by a single player in the men’s categories and two in the ladies.

Full report by Mourad METIOUI and Boujemâ Kariouch can be obtained from www.maroc-echecs.com. Article in English can be downloaded from the following link: http://maroc-echecs.com/article2088.html