The highly anticipated FIDE World School Chess Championship 2024 kicked off on May 1 in the Constitutional Province of Callao in Lima, Peru. A glittering opening ceremony, marked the start of this grand chess event.

The highest Peruvian authorities—Guido Flores Marchan, president of the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD), Morgan Niccolo Quero Gaime, minister of education of Peru, and Ciro Castillo Rojo Salas, Regional Governor of Callao—attended the opening ceremony (pictured below, from left to right).

The regional governor of Callao, Dr Ciro Castillo Rojo Salas, and the Minister of Education, Morgan Quero, inaugurated the competition, making the first ceremonial moves on one of the boards. The ceremony also featured a dancing performance by a local group that symbolized Peru's coast, mountains, and jungle.

Held in six age groups, U7, U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17, with separate events in open and girls' categories, the competition brought together 1200 chess players from 26 countries. The competitions in all categories are 9-round Swiss tournaments.

Photos: Gobierno Regional del Callao / Media centre Mundial Escolar