The 2017 World Chess Championship for the Disabled has officially opened with action beginning today in the German city of Dresden ©World Chess Championship for the Disabled

The 2017 World Chess Championship for the Disabled has officially opened with action beginning today in the German city of Dresden.

Seventy players from 11 National Federations on three continents are competing at the event, which is taking place at the Wyndham Garden Dresden hotel - the venue for the previous two editions in 2013 and 2015.

Among today's winners in round one was 2013 overall champion Stanislav Babarykin.

The Russian beat Germany's Raphael Zimmer, the newly-crowned junior world champion for the disabled, 1-0.

Also tasting victory was Poland's Jerzy Strzelecki, who won 1-0 at the expense of Russia's Dmitrij Scerbin.

Players from 11 National Federations are represented at the event ©World Chess Championship for the Disabled
Players from 11 National Federations are represented at the event ©World Chess Championship for the Disabled

At the Opening Ceremony, tournament director Dirk Jordan guided participants through the eight-day programme.

They were welcomed by World Chess Federation Disabled Commission chairman Thomas Luther, who highlighted the importance of the tournament.

He also elaborated on the developments within chess for the disabled since the last World Championship in 2015.

Dignitaries and representatives of German state Saxony and the city of Dresden were present.

Jamie Kenmure, one of the deputy arbiters, had the honour of declaring the event open.