Peng Cheng He from China has been drawn as No.1 among the 81 participants in the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, which begins this weekend.

He will open the auditions for the first round of the event at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Each pianist will give a recital consisting of a selection of etudes, a nocturne and a ballad or a scherzo. Forty entrants will qualify to the second round.

The International Chopin Competition is one of the most prestigious for pianists and was inaugurated in 1927. It has been held every five years since 1955.

Japan has the largest, 17-strong, contingent this time.

Poland is represented by seven pianists: Fares Marek Basmadji, Marek Bracha, Jacek Kortus, Marcin Koziak, Joanna Różewska, Gracjan Szymczak and Paweł Wakarecy, two of whom (Kortus and Szymczak) took part in the event five years ago.

Previous winners include Krystian Zimerman. The last Pole to win the was Rafal Blechacz in the last competition held in Warsaw 2005. (mk/pg)