At a moment when chess is experiencing a massive surge in popularity, 1,380 young chess players from 114 different countries are taking part in the FIDE Online World Cadets & Youth Rapid Chess Championships. 

The event, which kicks off today, comprises five different age groups: U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18. The participants will be competing in two sections: girls, and open. 

The tournament starts with a continental selection stage: Africa: 28-30 Nov America: 2-4 Dec Europe: 7-9 Dec Asia: 11-13 Dec. This structure also helps to accommodate the different time zones of the participants. 

A participant in the FIDE World Cadets Rapid and Blitz Championship 2019 held in Minsk, Belarus. PHOTO: Niki Riga.

The 12 best players from this continental stage will advance to the final, where they will be joined by 4 players directly seeded. The finals will consist of ten knock-out tournaments (one for each age group and section) of 16 players. 

In his message to the participants, the FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich thanked the support of Gazprom, general partner of the event, as well as the organizers, the Georgian Chess Federation, and the FIDE Vice-President Akaki Iashvili. “We hope this event will bring joy to all the participants”, he concluded, before wishing good health and good luck to all players. 

The championship will be played under rapid time control: 10+3 in the qualification stage and 15+ 10 in the finals.

Official website: www.world2020.ge

About Gazprom: 
Gazprom is a global energy company focused on geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and sales of gas, gas condensate and oil, sales of gas as a vehicle fuel, as well as generation and marketing of heat and electric power. Gazprom is the global leader measured by the amount of reserves and volumes of gas production. Gazprom sells gas to Russian consumers and exports gas to over 30 countries within and beyond the former Soviet Union. Gazprom is the biggest gas supplier to Europe. Gazprom is among the top three oil and gas condensate producers in the Russian Federation, ranking number one in Russia in terms of electricity generation among thermal generation companies and in terms of thermal energy generation. 

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