![Picture](/uploads/1/4/1/8/14188259/5248161.jpg)
The tournament to be held at Golden Jubilee Tower in Dar es Salaam from June 14-16 is rated by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
It is expected to be one of the strongest competitions ever played in East Africa and will involve players from Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Romania.
Notable participants include Grand Master Nigel Short from the UK, World Grand Master Alina L. Ami from Romania, IM Daniel Jere, IM elect Gillan Bwalya and IM Chitumbo Mwali of Zambia. Spicenet Tanzania Director Vinay Choudary said after handing over the equipment including chess boards and electronic clocks, which they hope the tournament will completely change the state of the game in Tanzania and will mark the beginning of a new chess era in the country.
"We firmly believe that by supporting this tournament we will make a great stride in promoting this game locally and internationally," he said. He insisted that Tanzania has good players who can rise to international levels and make Tanzania proud in sports.
"We have a long-term plan to continue promoting and supporting chess in Tanzania and together with TCA, we will make sure this game is eventually introduced to a large number of people through schools, colleges, universities and other avenues," Choudary said.
TCA Chairman Geoffrey Mwanyika said they are delighted to have Spicenet on board in promoting the game which was almost dead in Tanzania.