By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Thousands of chess fanatics are expected to flock to the UAE for the inaugural Bench Chess Festival, touted as the biggest festival of its kind in the emirates.
Filipina actress Lovi Poe will grace the event, as well as the grand opening of Bench’s new outlets in Al Wahda Street, Sharjah. The chess festival will be led by Augusto S. Marcial, Fide International Arbiter and Founding President of Expat Chess Club UAE.
The five-day chess festival will feature tournaments and exhibitions from November 8 to 12at Burjuman’s Main Atrium in Dubai.
The event is part of Direct Clicks Marketing Management LLC’s corporate social responsibility and is being done in partnership with Bench UAE.
“We at Direct Clicks Marketing would like to organize a free-to-attend event wherein everyone can join. This is just the first of many,” said Gwen Viernes, Managing Director of Direct Clicks Marketing.
“We at Bench want to help local chess players gain global recognition through an event that is going to bring the world’s best of the best chess players in the UAE. This is going to be an epic event,” said Mr. Imthiyas Palliveedu, CEO & Chairman of Shades Global Trading LLC (Bench), as he announced the event.
Top chess players from the region are expected to compete in the event. The tournament is open to everyone.
“Our committee has worked on all the details to make sure this event becomes the most prestigious chess festival in the UAE,” said Mr. Salih V. Jamal, Managing Director of Shades Global Trading LLC.
The supporting sponsors of the Biggest Chess Festival in UAE are Royal Brunei Airlines, JYSK, Dreamland Aqua Park and Sea View Hotel Dubai with Burjuman as the mall partner.
