site.bta First Kardzhali International Chess Festival to Be Held from October 24 to 26

The First Kardzhali International Chess Festival will be held in the southern town from October 24 to 26, the organizers told BTA on Thursday. Over 100 Grandmasters, masters and chess enthusiasts from ten countries are expected to participate, including from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkiye, Serbia, Denmark, Belgium, France and Germany.

The best chess players will receive a cash prize, with the total prize fund being BGN 15,000.

"We are trying, against the background of all the disagreements that are happening in sports in Bulgaria, to organize a tournament that will have a serious resonance and that will show unity, gathering in one place so many players from different countries," said Nedim Ismailov, Chair of Arda Chess Club. He added that the event has the status of a festival because it unites a total of four tournaments, two of which are for children.

The festival is organized by Kardzhali Municipality and the Arda Chess Club.