Fast and furious chess comes to Riyadh

Dr. Abdullah Al-Wahshi, President of the SCF (in the middle), moves the first piece to the world ranked player, the Mauritanian Moulaye Brahim Hemam (left), marking the inauguration of the Chess Championship‎ on Mar. 17, 2023, in Riyadh. (Supplied)

Dozens of international and local players began the competitions in the Chess Championship organized by the General Entertainment Authority in cooperation with the Saudi Chess Federation on Mar. 17, 2023, in Riyadh ‎. (Supplied)

• More than 100 players taking part in the contest
• Saudi Chess Federation President Abdullah Al-Wahshi opened the new Chess Competition‎

RIYADH: It has for millenia been known as a battle of wits, tactics and skill. And at the inaugural Saudi Chess Competition, it is also about speed.
More than 100 players taking part in the contest, which started on Thursday in Riyadh, have no more than 10 seconds to make a move, and games last no longer than 15 minutes under “fast chess” rules.
A plodding affair it is not, and it chimes with the speed at which the game is progressing in the Kingdom.
Saudi Chess Federation President Abdullah Al-Wahshi opened the new Chess Competition‎ days after his organization won the rights to host this year’s Asian Chess Championship.
Al-Wahshi said that the federation had ‎worked hard to secure the rights.
“‎The Saudi team was able to convince the members of the General Assembly of the Asian Chess Federation after strong competition with the Chinese,” he said, adding that Saudi chess had improved its international profile over recent years.
“The big shift in the King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019 had a significant impact on the international level and not only the local level,” Al-Wahshi‎ said.
“They have given the Saudis great prestige and mastery in the international arena, especially with regard to organizational matters, prizes, and capabilities.”
The two-day Chess Competition, organized by the General Entertainment Authority‎ in cooperation with the SCF, follows the laws and regulations of the International Chess Federation.
Players are competing through nine rounds based on the “Fisher‎‎‎‎‎” fast chess system‎‎‎, which forces quick, aggressive chess. The competition winner will be awarded SR300,000 ($80,000), second place gets SR200,000, and third SR100,000. There are additional prizes down to 10th place, said the GEA.
‎It is the idea of GEA Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh, who was appointed to the board of the chess federation last year.
“The idea of the chess competition launched by Turki Al-Sheikh is wonderful,” Al-Wahshi‎ said. “I am really happy with Al-Sheikh joining the board of directors, and hope that this will contribute to making a big leap in its performance.”
“‎The current chess championship is the key to organizing more global and regional championships.”