The Abu Dhabi Chess & Culture Club and Chess.com announce the first Abu Dhabi Super Blitz Challenge, on Wednesday, April 15. The tournament features a prize fund of $10,000 and is open to all titled players. Early entries include GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and GM Alexander Grischuk.

The tournament will have a time control of 3+1. The first stage is a 11-round Swiss. There will be 5-minute breaks after round five and nine. The top eight finishers will advance to an eight-player knockout playoff with a 2-game mini-match per round with armageddon tiebreak that will determine the final placements. There are four prizes:

First place: $5,000

Second place: $3,000

Third place: $1,500

Best female: $500*

*Prize goes to the best female player not finishing among the top three.

"Based on the directives of the authorities to the residents to stay at home during the lockdown, the Abu Dhabi sports council took the initiative to organize a big online event," said Hussein Abdullah Khouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Chess & Culture Club.

"It is very important to emphasize the role and support of the Abu Dhabi sports council in the community, and as the Abu Dhabi chess club, we would like to appreciate this move on behalf of all chess lovers in the UAE and the world.

"We will put all efforts to boost this event and together with the enthusiasm and commitment of all of you we will overcome the current circumstances and will checkmate the virus!"

Format:

The playoff format is here

The tournament will start on Wednesday, April 15 at 10 a.m. Pacific time which is 19:00 CEST and 21:00 in Abu Dhabi. Chess.com will be hosting the event and providing a live broadcast on Chess.com/tv with expert commentary by GM Aryan Tari and IM Danny Rensch.

Chess.com is inviting as many top grandmasters as possible for this event. At the time of writing, Grischuk and Vachier-Lagrave, both Candidates for the 2020 world championship, have confirmed their participation.

To participate, go to Chess.com/live and find the Abu Dhabi Super Blitz Challenge under "Tournaments," registration opens an hour before the event starts on 15 April.

Alongside the Abu Dhabi Super Blitz Challenge, there will also be a special event for residents of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE Masters will be held April 8-13 and consists of five Swiss tournaments similar to the Titled Tuesday tournaments.

The Masters will have a $4,000 prize fund. If you're from the UAE and would like to play, make sure you join the Abu Dhabi Chess & Culture Club on Chess.com.