8th Sharjah International Chess Masters features 350 players
Global participation
The event features 350 players from 60 countries, showcasing strong international representation and competitive diversity.
Leading competitors
Among the top contenders are International Master Salem Abdulrahman of Sharjah Club and the UAE national team, Arab Women's Champion Rawda Al Sirkal of Abu Dhabi Club, and local stars Omar Noman, Imran Al Hosani, and Ibrahim Sultan.
International arbitration panel
A panel of 15 international arbiters will oversee the competition. FIDE official Faisal Al Hammadi serves as head arbiter, with Salman Al Taher as deputy. Separate teams will manage the second and third tournaments to ensure smooth and professional operation throughout the event.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
4 days ago
- The National
Checkmate: Dubai inmates rank fifth in Asian chess tournament
A team of inmates from Dubai Police Central Jail took fifth place at the first online edition of the Asian Inmate Chess Championship. The tournament, held under the supervision of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), featured 23 teams from eight countries across Asia. Dubai Police picked a team of eight inmates from Dubai Central Jail after a tournament held in April this year inside the jail with the participation of 40 inmates organised in collaboration with Dubai Chess and Culture Club. Dubai Police said on Saturday that, despite the tough competition, the team ranked fifth in the last rounds where teams were divided into 15 teams of men, four teams of women and four teams of juveniles. Lt Col Mohammed Al Obaidli, director of inmate education and training department at Dubai Police expressed his pride of the honourable participation in the tournament. 'We are keen to participate in chess tournaments and other sporting activities. It aims to develop discipline, focus and skills among inmates as part of our rehabilitation programmes,' Lt Col Al Obaidli said. 'We are proud of the result and the performance of our time in first-of-its kind championship. 'We are looking to build self-confidence and develop positive behaviour as well as boost the mental and sporting skills of inmates. We want to highlight the potentials especially as it's a mental sport based on discipline and patience.' According to FIDE, the online chess championship for prisoners marked a significant milestone in the effort to bring chess into correctional institutions worldwide. 'As part of the Chess for Freedom initiative, this expansion provides incarcerated individuals with new opportunities for intellectual engagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society,' FIDE said on their website. The tournament was played on using a 10-minute + 5-second increment time control. Dubai Police is preparing to participate in the fifth Intercontinental Chess Cup for Prisoners, scheduled for October this year, where Dubai Police will return as the previous edition's title-holder. The inmates' team beat 115 other chess squads from 51 countries at the international chess tournament organised by the Cook County Office in Chicago, and held online for three days last year. 'We are looking to defend our title and will keep working to represent UAE and Dubai Police,' Lt Col Al Obaidli said.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Police inmates places 5th at inaugural Asian Inmate Chess Championship
A team of inmates from Dubai Police's Correctional and Penal Institutions placed fifth in the inaugural edition of Asian Inmate Chess Championship, held recently virtually under the supervision of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The tournament featured 23 teams from eight countries across Asia, with Dubai representing the UAE through a team of eight inmates. The players were selected following internal qualifiers involving 40 inmates, organised in collaboration with the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. 'The team placed fifth overall, demonstrating a high level of preparation and strategic competence during the final rounds. The outcome reflects the consistency and focus shown by the participants throughout the competition,' Dubai Police said in a statement sent to Khaleej Times on Saturday. 'The participation (of the inmates team) in such events forms part of the department's structured rehabilitation efforts, aimed at developing discipline, focus, and cognitive skills among inmates,' noted Lt. Col Muhammad Al Obaidli, director of the Inmate Education and Training Department at Dubai Police. Al Obaidi added the department is currently preparing to participate in the fifth Inmate Chess World Cup, scheduled for October, where Dubai Police will return as the previous edition's titleholder. Early this year, Dubai Police inmates' team beat 115 other chess squads from 51 countries at the international chess tournament organised by the Cook County Office in Chicago.
Al Etihad
04-06-2025
- Al Etihad
UAE spearheading chess movement in the Gulf: FIDE in Norway
4 June 2025 23:49 STAVANGER (ALETIHAD)The UAE is fast solidifying its position as a global chess hub, the topmost two officials of the world chess body have President Arkady Dvorkovich and his deputy Viswanathan Anand have praised the dynamic growth of the sport in the Emirates while speaking at the sidelines of the Norway Chess Open on has already spoke to Aletihad about the UAE's organisational capabilities and major plans for the sport, when it was decided to award the 2028 Chess Olympiad to Abu Dhabi as UAE's chess ecosystem has seen remarkable growth, with established tournaments like the Dubai Open, Sharjah Open, and the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival attracting global talent."The UAE likes to be at the centre of many things," said Anand, a five-time world champion and the Deputy President of FIDE, while talking to media on the second rest day of the Norway tournament, featuring world's top players such as Magnus Carlsen and reigning world champion D Gukesh. "They've been very active in chess, hosting events across the Emirates – Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah – and playing an important role.'Players love coming here, and the [UAE] national federation is very active – always thinking of new ways to promote the game,' he said. The UAE has also hosted many major events at the continental level such as Asian Individual Chess Championship last month in Al Ain, the home of the Asian Chess Federation president, Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout Al also recalled his personal connection to Dubai's chess scene. 'When I was younger, tournaments in the Emirates were some of the most anticipated. The 1986 Olympiad in Dubai was a special moment – even then, Dubai was a fascinating place. I remember being amazed [later] by an ice rink in the desert [Ski Dubai], something unheard of at the time. From my first Olympiad in '86 to today, it has always been a special chess destination – and it just keeps getting better.'Abu Dhabi hosting the Chess Olympiad again [in the UAE] after 42 years shows how much the country and the region have embraced chess. It's a thrilling prospect for players and fans alike. It shows how far the UAE has come as a chess destination.' Dvorkovich also gave his nod: 'It's a huge milestone.'While on Dubai, the FIDE boss recalled the 2021 World Championship contest between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi during the Dubai Expo 2020 when UAE demonstrated their ability to elevate chess into a global spectacle. "Dubai made it an international event, not just a local competition – that's what the city does best."And for both, the emergence of 15-year-old Rouda AlSerkal as the Gulf's first Woman Grandmaster has become a symbol of the UAE's chess ambitions. The Abu Dhabi resident's recent strong performances in international competitions, including in the open category of Norway Chess as a wild card, has many sit up and take notice."It's a wonderful surprise to see a young talent like Rouda breaking barriers," said Anand. "Her success has the potential to inspire countless girls across the region. It could be a game-changer for chess in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Dvorkovich also noted the strides of development being made in Qatar while looking at the broader picture in the Gulf region. Apart from hosting the Qatar Masters tournament, this December, Doha will host the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships for the first time. 'This is huge for the region,' Dvorkovich said. 'More wild cards will be given to players from the Gulf, and local spectators will experience world-class chess in a spectacular venue.' Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
