By Itzhak Rabihiya
One of Israel's largest chess tournaments will be hosted this year in Netanya, where the best of the world's players and five of Israel's best chess players will compete in a closed masters competition – the Jerusalem post reports today.
Among the visitors will be US vice-champion and former Cuba champion Dominingues Perez and former Russian chess champion and current Russia speed-chess champion Schniel Dubov.
The five Israeli chess players are the top five of the country, including Brosi Gelfand, former world champion Maxim Rodstein, Tamir Nevati, Ilia Smirin, and Israeli champion who came out of retirement after over 30 years, Alon Grinfeld.
An open chess tournament will occur parallel to the closed masters' tournament, allowing 150 participants from Israel and around the world to come and compete.
The event, initiated by the Israeli Chess Federation, will take place inside the Netanya soccer stadium in cooperation with the Netanya Municipality. Roman Abramovich, Jewish Russian billionaire and businessman who is known for owning the soccer team Chelsea F.C., is one of the event's sponsors.
"Saudi Arabia has hosted world championship competitions and Israeli chess players did not receive entrance visas and therefore could not participate," said head of the Israeli Chess Federation Moshe Shalev. "We see this competition in Netanya as a response to this boycott."
The competition, taking place from June 23 to July 3, will be broadcast live on the Israeli Chess Federation Website
