Teams competing in the “Western Asian Junior Chess Championship 2022” have begun arriving in the Maldives.

As such, teams from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan arrived in the Maldives for the first-ever international chess championship to be hosted by the Maldives, on Tuesday.

The team from Uzbekistan comprises of 31 players, with the Kyrgyzstan team being comprised of 29 players.

Further, two players from the Pakistani team also arrived on Tuesday. All of the players were accompanied by their family members as well as officials.

The remaining teams from Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are scheduled to touch down in the Maldives on Wednesday.

The championship will be held in Ukulhas island of Alif Alif atoll, from June 16 – 23.

The nine-day championship was organized by the Maldives Chess Association.

A total of nine countries will be joining the championship, deemed the biggest international championship to be hosted by the Maldives, to date.

Teams from Maldives, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be competing in the championship.

The championship is on the theme “Smart kids – use only non-violent solutions to problems”.

The championship will proceed under six age groups, in both women’s and men’s divisions.

Privately-run television station, RaajjeTV recently signed on as media partner for the Western Asian Junior Chess Championship.