What is Zonal Tournaments?

Zonal Tournaments are part of the system for determining the players in the World Chess Championship. They are chess tournaments organized by FIDE through its continental and national affiliates, aimed at defining the players who qualify for the next stage in World Chess Championship cycles. The world is divided into several geographical zones, and each zone sends a designated number of qualifiers. The actual number depends on the strength of the players and the chess activity in that particular zone.