The 5th Barzani International Chess Festival will take place in Erbil under the supervision of the Barzani Charity Foundation. Over 200 international players from 15 countries will participate in the festival.
The fifth Barzani International Chess Festival officially opened on March 14, 2025. Organized by the Barzani Charity Foundation, in collaboration with the Erbil International Equestrian Club and the Khanzad Chess Club, and in coordination with the Iraqi Chess Union Erbil Branch, the event celebrates the birth anniversary of the legendary Mustafa Barzani. This tournament is registered with the International Chess Federation and marks the first time a group format will be used in Kurdistan and Iraq.
More than 200 international players, including both men and women from 15 foreign countries, alongside participants from Kurdistan and Iraq, took part in the tournament. The tournament was structured into two groups (A and B), with Group B designated for youth and female players.
The tournament consisted of 9 rounds, with each player given 10 minutes and an additional 10 seconds per move. Kurdish international referees oversaw the event at the Erbil International Equestrian Club over two days. Participants ranged in age from 6 to 70 years, with women comprising 44% of the total.
The tournament organizers have set aside a prize pool of 13,500,000 Iraqi dinars for the top players.
