SHARJAH:  The third edition of Sharjah Masters Chess Championship will be held at the Sharjah Chess and Cultural Club from March 21-31.

Billed as one of the strongest tournament in the world, around 180 players representing difference countries will take part in the competition.

38 Grandmasters, 45, International Masters, 22 FIDE Masters and 10 candidate Masters will compete for the top honours.

Over $60,000 in cash prizes, with a top prize of $15,000, are at stake in the nine-round tournament. The championship will be held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Last year, seventeen-year-old Grandmaster Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran forced a draw with Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine in the final round to win with an amazing 8 points out of 9 rounds in the 2nd Sharjah Masters Chess Championship.

The details of the event were revealed during a press conference held at the Sharjah Chess and Cultural Club.

Sheikh Saud Bin Abdul Aziz Al Mualla, president of the Arab Chess Federation, Talal Al Zaabi, Deputy Director of Sharjah Chess and Cultural Club, and Ragai Al Susi, Sharjah Chess Club executive manager, were present during the occasion.

While extending sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr Sheikh Qasimi for his patronage and support to the championship, Sheikh Saud said: “The Sharjah Masters features a very competitive field with top grandmasters from the world vying for the prestigious title.” Zaabi said: “This year the tournament will be the strongest in terms of technical level, compared to the previous editions, with the participation of so many grandmasters whose rates are higher than the participants in previous years.”