The qualifiers to the coming World Cities Team Championship for the Sheikh Zayed Cup have been scheduled for 21-29 December 2012 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Olympiad champion Armenia will lead 32 city teams in the $150,000 knock-out format championship. Host United Arab Emirates joins qualifiers from the World Team Championship, Continental teams and 25 top zonal teams from the Istanbul Olympiad.

The tournament is organized by the Al Ain Chess Club, headed by Asian Chess Federation president Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan, on behalf of FIDE, Asian Chess Federation and UAE Chess Federation, FIDE official website reported.

However, as RA Chess Federation Vice President Smbat Lputyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenia’s participation in the championship has not been discussed yet.