When most people think of international competitions, the first thing that comes to mind is the Olympic Games, or perhaps the World Cup. There are, however, other less-known competitions of equal excitement, though admittedly of a different style. As an avid chess player, I will be curious to follow the results of this year’s World Cities Team Championship, which will be held in late December in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
At the invitation of the World Chess Federation, or FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), thirty-two city teams from nearly every continent will compete for the Sheikh Zayed Cup and a total of $150,000 in cash prizes. In addition to the Unites States and a number of traditionally strong teams from Eastern Europe, a number of up-and-coming teams from Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa will be attending. Fellow chess fans won’t want to miss the action.
About the author
Amichai Vardi works as an engineering director for Medtronic in Northridge, California. He plays chess in his spare time.
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