On 17 November, the opening of the Western Asian Youth and Junior Chess Championship among participants aged from 6 to 20 was held at the International Hotel. The panel of judges included experienced arbiters from West Asia countries.
300 chess players from 11 West Asia countries - India, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan applied for participation.
The strongest young Asian chess players will compete in the championship in standard chess, rapid and blitz. Winners will receive international chess titles such as international grandmaster, international master and master of FIDE.
The honour of Uzbekistan will be defended by Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Humoyun Begmuratov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Abdimalik Abdisalimov, Afruz Khamdamov, Bakhor Abdusattorov, Ortik Nigmatov, Umida Omonova and Almas Rakhmatullaev.
The championship is supported by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), and is held under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation. The championship runs from 16 November to 23 November 2018 in Tashkent (Uzbekistan).