Montblanc supports talented players at Dubai Chess and Culture Club

A total of 135 players from 15 countries will be participating in the tournament.

Mr. Joe Nahhas, Brand Director Middle East of Montblanc, said:

"Is the beginning of our long term association with the Dubai Chess & Culture club. Montblanc usually sponsors cultural events, music and the arts so this is a natural fit for us. Montblanc is therefore proud to support the Dubai Chess and Culture Club in this important event. Moreover, we have recently renewed our commitment and support to Unicef and their worldwide activities to support children's education and fight illiteracy."

He added: "We are particularly pleased and proud to be part of this junior's event to celebrate the achievement of young people from all over the world who have had access to a good education and have achieved success in the game of chess."

Mr. Nahhas added that Montblanc commitment to Unicef's child education programme centres around the sales of a new line of Montblanc products called Signature for Good, with proceeds from all these sales going towards the cause. Montblanc has pledged a minimum commitment of $1.5m (Dhs5.5 m) worldwide.�

"I thank the Patron of the Juniors Chess Championship, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Dubai Chess and Culture Club for giving us the opportunity to participate."

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jamal Al Abdouly, Assistant General Secretary of the Dubai Chess and Culture Club, said that the tournament started in 2002, and it gathers the best junior players under the age of 8, 10, 12 and 14 years old.

"The tournament has good international fame and this year it will run till August 5th.

Al Abdouly said the Junior Chess committee has made arrangements to receive participants from Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, the Philippines, India, Syria, Turkmenistan including the world champion under 8 years, the Kazakhstani Dinara Sadokasofaosaheb, and some Arab champions such as the Arab champion under 14 years, Ward Tarboush, Syria, and Amenat Noaman as well as UAE champions in 8-14 years category Badragani Youlvi, the No. 1 player (2358) in the tournament.

Azerbaijan is the Master of the International Chess Federation in the 14 years age group, while Sagi Gover of India is second (2310) and Antonio Fiani of India is third (2107).

Mr. Mahdi Abd Al Raheem of the UAE will serve as head of the international referees and he will be assisted by Mohammed Abd Allah from Somalia and Gamal Al Manea from Yemen. Both are international referees. Also assisting will be Saeed Yusuf, Sheikha Ali Rashid and Mariam Mohammed.

The tournament will follow guidelines of the Swiss formula of nine rounds, with a game of 90 minutes for every player with every player given 30 seconds from the first shift (Fischer style). Players will gather in the morning of July 28 to draw lots to determine their first opponents.