OCC to launch 48 chess schools

MUSCAT, Sept 30 - Oman Chess Committee announced it will launch 48 chess schools around the Sultanate in coordination with Oman School Sports Association. The new project will aim to target around 800 students that will boost students’ level in chess, the ‘brain game’. “We will focus on the age category 6-16 years from both genders. From this future project, we will select the talented players to join the national teams. The project aims to increase the number of players who play chess in the Sultanate and increase the number of Omani players registered in the international ranking,” Ahmed al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Chess Committee, said. “Our strategic partnership with Oman School Sports Association will include training students and teachers on the best mechanism to learn chess.” “Also, to educate them on the technical and international standards and rules of the game. We will start the project with two schools for category A and another two schools for category B as first stage. Total number of 48 schools will be selected with 800 students,” Al Balushi concluded.