The 2018 Asian Draughts Championship kicked off in Xintai, a county-level city of Tai'an, Shandong province on April 21.

Nearly 160 players from?11 Asian countries, including 77 from China, participated in the competition, which was divided into three events of classic draughts-100, rapid and blitz.

The 2018 Asian Draughts Championship?opens in Xintai, a county-level city of Tai'an, Shandong province on April 21. [Photo/my0538.com]

All the matches will end on April 26.

The checkerboard of draughts is a black and white checkered surface with 100 small squares. The classic draughts-100 refers to two players competing on the checkerboard with 100 squares without time limitation.

As to rapid and blitz events, they both have time limitations. The time in which moves must be made of the former is limited to 15 to 30 minutes and that of the latter to 5 to 15 minutes.

Competitors of the classic draughts-100 are categorized into six different groups according to their ages: U8, U11, U14, U17, U20 and one open group with no age limitation.

The top two of the open group will be eligible to participate in the 2019 World Championship. They must, however, have different nationalities.

Titles such as International grandmaster, international master or fide master, will be awarded to those with outstanding results.

Eilat Nurgaliev, vice chairman of the Asian Draughts Confederation, issued the "Outstanding Contribution Award of Draughts" plaque to seven units at the opening ceremony, including the Shandong Chess Sports Management Center and the Xintai sports bureau.

The competition is jointly organized by the Asian Draughts Confederation and the Chinese Draughts Association.

Two girls compete at the 2018 Asian Draughts Championship held in Xintai, a county-level city of Tai'an, Shandong province from April 21 to April 26. [Photo/my0538.com]

Competitors at the 2018 Asian Draughts Championship held in Xintai, a county-level city of Tai'an, Shandong province from April 21 to April 26. [Photo/my0538.com]