Sulaymaniyah wins Iraq Chess Championship provincial tournament

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Sulaymaniyah finished first in Iraq's Chess Championship, the annual Provincial Olympiad, ahead of Baghdad in second and Maysan in third, according to the Iraqi Chess Federation. Federation president Zafar Abdul Amir said the tournament drew 20 teams, including one squad from each of 16 provinces, two teams from Kirkuk, a team of players with disabilities and the Iraqi Women's Olympiad team. Each team fielded four players, and the competition was held over nine rounds under the Swiss system, with 70 minutes per player and a 30-second increment per move. Erbil placed fifth and Diyala sixth in the final standings. Abdul Amir described the Provincial Olympiad as one of the federation's main annual events, aimed at strengthening inter-provincial competition and identifying new talent. No further details on the closing date or venue were immediately available.