Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan is competing in 15th European Individual Women`s Chess Championship, which is the first chess event in the history under the patronage of UNESCO, that has got underway in Plovdiv, Bulgaria,AzerTag state news agency reported.

Azerbaijan`s hopes are pinned on grand masters including Gulnar Mammadova, Turkan Mammadyarova, international masters including Khayala Abdulla, Sabina Ibrahimova, Narmin Kazimova, as well as FIDE masters including Narmin Khalafova, Gunay Mammadzade, Ayten Amrayeva, Narmin Mammadova and Narmin Soyunlu.

About 115 women chess players from 26 countries are competing in the championship.
The European Individual Women`s Championship 2014 is a qualification event for the next World Cup. According to FIDE regulations and the decision of the ECU Board, 14 players will qualify. The championship will be organized in 11-round Swiss system in accordance with the ECU Tournament Rules and FIDE Laws of Chess.

The rate of play will be 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move, starting from move one.

Players may only agree to a draw after the 40th move has been made by black. Players violating this rule will be forfeited. If a player is offered a draw before the 40th move has been made by black, she should call an arbiter. Her opponent shall be punished for distracting, according to the FIDE Laws of Chess.

Zero-tolerance rule will be applied for each round.

The prize fund is 60, 000 euros. The first 3 places will be awarded cups and medals.