interzonal

Interzonal refers to something that occurs or exists between two or more zones. The term is most commonly encountered in competitive sports, particularly in chess and basketball. In chess, interzonal tournaments were historically a crucial stage in the World Chess Championship cycle. These tournaments featured strong players from different geographical zones, with the top finishers advancing to the Candidates Tournament, the final step before challenging the reigning World Champion. The system aimed to ensure global representation and provide a competitive pathway for players from all parts of the world.

In basketball, interzonal refers to games played between teams from different conferences or divisions within a league. For instance, in a league structured with multiple zones or regions, an interzonal game would be a matchup where the participating teams are not from the same designated zone. This concept helps create a broader league-wide schedule and allows for contests between teams that might not otherwise face each other during the regular season. The term emphasizes the bridging of distinct geographical or organizational divisions.