The Vanuatu Chess Federation will select 12 successful candidates in the final qualification round tomorrow.

The qualification rounds to select finalists for this year’s World Chess Championship have been interesting to watch, with strong public interest and participation, as a total of 32 players took part.

This is the highest number of registered participants in a qualification round, which started on 30 January and continued through this week. The competition consists of nine rounds, bringing together players who previously participated in other tournaments such as the Independence Knockout and the National Cup.

Today marks Round 8 of play, with the final round scheduled for tomorrow, 7 February.

With 32 competitors, the ninth and final round tomorrow will determine those who will qualify for the World Chess Championship this year.

Information received by VBTC Sports from the federation shows that many of the players in the qualification round have already competed in other tournaments hosted by the federation over the past year, which makes them eligible to be considered for selection in tomorrow’s finals.

A total of 12 players will be selected—six females and six males—to form the Vanuatu National Chess Team that will participate in the World Chess Championship in Uzbekistan in September this year.

L’Hostalet French Restaurant is the venue being used by the federation to host competitions of this kind.

Following tomorrow night’s final, VBTC Sports will announce the 12 successful participants who will represent the country.