
World Youth Chess Championship 2013
17-29 December 2013, Al Ain, UAE
The World Youth Chess Championship's history goes back to 1974. France
was the first country to host the young participants of the World Cadets,
U17 tournament. Later on the championship experienced many changes in the
name and regulations. These days, the World Youth Championship is far and
away one of the most important tournaments in the career of any chess player.
Many top players received their first medals at the start of their professional
chess lives. Sanan Syugirov (RUS), Yu Yangyi (CHN), World Blitz Champion
2013 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE), European Women’s Champion 2012 and
2012 Olympic Champion Valentina Gunina (RUS), World Women’s Champion
Hou Yifan, World Rapid Champion 2013 Le Quang Liem and many other professionals
have won different categories in the championships of different years.

Al Ain is known for its beautiful gardens and
parks

The World Youth Chess Championship 2013 is taking place from 17 to 29 December
in Al Ain, UAE. More than 1800 participants from 120 national chess federations
have come to the beautiful city of Al Ain, the green oasis in the eastern
region of the United Arab Emirates. The amazing oriental coloring infrastructure,
together with the fantastic weather would undoubtedly leave good memories
to all participants and guests of the championship.
The tournament is organized under FIDE aegis by the Al Ain Chess Club,
which has been known for the organization of local tournaments as well as
international chess competitions worldwide for a long time.

The playing venue was chosen in the Central Educational Institution –
the UAE University. More than 11,000 female and 4,000 male students study
different subjects here. The huge territory of the University Campus with
excellent conditions for study and rest has become home for young chess
players for the coming two weeks. Cozy rooms, comfortable launches, recreation
areas and sport arenas – all is provided for the participants of the
Championship. Numerous buildings for classes, campuses for leaving, administration
buildings and sport fields seem to be close to each other thanks to the
well-organized local bus transportation.

The cafeteria of the University offers a wide variety of oriental and
European food. The big hall of the restaurant can accept all the participants
and guests at the same time.

The playing arena consists of big halls for the main Open and Girls competitions,
with a separate hall for the Open tournament which takes place concurrent
with the Championship. Many International Grandmasters have come to Al Ain
to participate in the Open tournament. The light big playing hall is decorated
with the logos and banners of the Championship, nice noiseless carpet makes
the play comfortable.

Opening Ceremony
The World Youth Chess Championship Opening Ceremony took place on 17 December
in the heart of the UAE University – the Crescent Hall. It started
with a nice march performed by the local drummers and trumpeters, and the
National Anthem of the United Arab Emirates followed the FIDE Anthem.

The World Youth Chess Championship Organizing Committee Chairman His Highness
Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahayan opened the ceremony with his welcoming
speech. He greeted all guests, young players and their parents in his homeland.
He expressed his hope that every participant would have warm recollections
of staying in his city. Mr. Al Nahayan informed the audience that the large
number of participants have been recorded to participate in the 2013 Championship.
He also thanked his family, leadership of the UAE, sponsors and partners
who helped them to make the championship true: “Chess is a global
sport. It is a message for the World of unity and friendship” At the
end of his speech, he wished all players of a world class competition victories
and success.

After that FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was invited to a stage. On
behalf of the World Chess Federation, he congratulated everyone with the
opening of one of the most important competition in the FIDE calendar. He
underlined that this year championship has broken a record in number of
participants and federations. He also mentioned that the new chess talents
would certainly appear in the chess Olympus, where they will show an intelligence
through chess art. The FIDE President declared the Championship open.

A simultaneous presentation game Evgeny Miroshnichenko (UKR) vs. Salem
R Saleh, several times UAE National Champion was played on the stage on
four boards. It was an exciting show that was surely liked by the young
participants as well as guests. Friendship won this time.

The ceremony was followed by the national Arabic dances in colorful costumes.
Nice music and emotional dances introduced national culture and spirit to
the guests of Al Ain.

Beautiful falcons and amazing baby camels added the national color to the
atmosphere. The ceremony ended with the fireworks.
Video presentations on the official web site
Information and pictures provided by Kema Goryaeva and
Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh