Kathmandu: Nepal Chess Federation (NCF) has announced to organise the second National Freedom Asian Chess Initiative (FACI) Youth, Cadet, and Women’s Championship on Friday and Saturday.

The event to be held in Buddhanagar, Kathmandu, will feature around 500 players across six age groups—U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, and U-18—in both boys’ and girls’ categories.

Winners in each age group will receive Rs 10,000, runners-up Rs 7,000, and third-place finishers Rs 4,000, along with certificates and medals. Participants finishing fourth to tenth will also have share in the total prize pool of Rs 336,000.

The championship will host international chess dignitaries including FACI Project Head Jazira Iskamdirov, Kazakhstan Chess Federation Vice President GM Darmen Sadbhakasov and Super GM Viktor Bologan.

According to NCF, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation has contributed to the cash prizes, with additional financial support from the National Sports Council.

Meanwhile, International Master Bakhtiyar Askarov from Kazakhstan arrived in Nepal on Tuesday to conduct a 15-day training program for 20 national players.