The 18th Abu Dhabi Chess Festival reeled off with 18 GMs and 5 IMs heading the field of 132 players from 31 countries. Aside from the Open, the Festival includes a Junior tournament with 68 players from 12 countries, blitz tournament and simultaneous exhibition. Over $23,000 in cash prizes are at stake in the Festival organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club at the Al Jazeera Sports Club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Watch top games live at the Abu Dhabi Chess Club web site. See pairings and results at chess-results.com for the Open Tournament and the Junior Tournament.



General Manager Saif Naser Al-Suwaidi (second from left) of the UAE Ministry of Finance and Younes Haji Khoury, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, making the ceremonial moves on a giant chess board.



A bird's eye view of the playing hall at the new Al Jazeera Sports Club, photo below.



The tournament is held under the patronage of His Excellency, Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, as announced in the streamer below.

The tournament has been well marketed. Flags of the tournament line the streets with prominent display of various sponsors's logos and the walls of the playing hall are adorned with banners of sponsors. Television news crews were present at the opening and the tournament is well covered by the national newspapers.