Abu dhabi: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival is set to commence from 15th to 24th August 2025. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the festival will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, and will feature total prizes amounting to AED500,000.
According to Emirates News Agency, this year's festival will witness the largest number of participants in its history, with more than 3,000 players representing 82 countries. This marks an increase of over 500 participants compared to the previous edition, positioning the event among the world's leading chess festivals and surpassing many prestigious international tournaments.
The festival will include 27 tournaments covering various age groups and skill levels, headlined by the Masters Tournament. Additionally, three new mind sports competitions-checkers, dominoes, and Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess)-will be introduced, reflecting the diversity and appeal of the activities to a broader audience of mind games enthusiasts.
Chess fans can anticipate the participation of the UAE's top players, including Imran Al Hosani, the West Asia Youth Champion, Arab Youth Champion, and UAE Men's Champion, alongside Roza Issa Al Serkal. An elite lineup of world champions in various age categories will also compete, led by Masters Tournament top seed Sanan Sjugirov and second seed Arkadij Naiditsch.
Representing the UAE in different age categories are national champion Ammar Al Sderani, Arab Girls Champion Ahlam Rashid, Abdulrahman Al Taher, and Hamad Al Kaaf. The festival also serves as a cultural and tourism showcase for Abu Dhabi, offering participating delegations the chance to explore the UAE capital's landmarks and cultural heritage through accompanying tourism programmes. This initiative further enhances Abu Dhabi's status as a global destination for both sport and tourism.