UAE Chess Federation officials during a meeting.

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

To make players ready, the technical committee of the UAE Chess Federation has revealed details of the preparations for the first Gulf Youth Games, which will be hosted by the UAE from April 16 to May 2.

Four countries have confirmed their participation in the event, and the door remains open for other countries to participate.

The chess competitions will take place in the Emirate of Sharjah, with Sultan Ali Al Tahir heading the technical committee for the game in the tournament. Faisal Al Hammadi has been selected as the chairman of the arbiters committee for the tournament, and the competitions will be held in the under-14 and under-18 categories for both boys and girls.

This came during a meeting of the technical committee, chaired by Sultan Ali Al Tahir at the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, in the presence of Saud Al-Marzouqi, head of the national teams committee, Hammadi, Abdullah Murad, head of the game development committee in schools, and Eman Al Arif, a member of the technical committee.

Abdullah Murad, a member of the competitions committee, presented the activity plan and the regularity of the programme, organizing the UAE Rapid Chess Championship in Abu Dhabi, and the Rapid Chess in Al Ain.

The general league for juniors in Dubai started, with the last round being postponed due to the weather conditions during the past period. There was diversity in the venues of the tournaments between clubs, and there was widespread participation from most member clubs, with national team coaches keen to attend the tournaments to follow up on the players.

Saud Al-Marzouqi presented what had been done regarding the contract with Armenian Grandmaster Vladimir Akopian, the coach of the national team, after the approval of the General Authority for Sports.

The coach's arrival date to follow up on the upcoming tournaments, including the Dubai International Police Championship, the Sharjah International Championship, and the Dubai International Championship, and the preparation of the team for the Chess Olympiad in Hungary in September, was discussed.

Faisal Al-Hammadi presented programs and courses for the referees' committee in the coming period, qualifying referees to obtain the international badge. Among them is Majid Al-Abdouli, who is preparing to complete the requirements for obtaining the international badge. The meeting also discussed the latest developments in organizing the Union Cup for Rapid Chess, with Abdullah Murad appointed as the tournament director and coordinating with the referees committee to select the referees.