Sharjah Masters Chess C'ship off to perfect start
Organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, the tournament features participation of 350 players from 60 countries, including 84 titled players with high international rankings. The championship carries a prize pruse of $75,000.
The first round commenced on the top board in the presence of Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club and President of the Arab Chess Federation; Dr. Saif Salem Lakhreibani Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation; Omran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Mohammed Al Mudhahka, President of the Qatar Chess Federation and Vice President of the Arab Chess Federation; Hussein Al Shamsi, former Secretary-General of the UAE Chess Federation; along with several prominent sports officials.
While the higher-ranked players largely asserted their dominance, the first round also witnessed several surprising outcomes. Nineteen players secured victories, while 44 games concluded in draws.
Among the notable outcomes was the draw between top seed Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, 2022 World Rapid Chess Champion, and India's S.P. Sethuraman on the first board. Iran's Parham Maghsoodloo, third seed and former World Junior Champion, drew with Indian player Aditya Mittal on the third board. UAE national team player and Sharjah Club representative Salem Abdulrahman was defeated by China's Dai Changren, while Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, the second seed, claimed a win over Kazakhstan's Rinat Jumabayev on the second board.
In the second tournament, for players rated under 2500, 59 competitors recorded wins in the opening round, while 23 games ended in draws. In the third tournament, featuring players rated between 1900 and 1400, there were 49 wins and 12 draws.
Dr. Saif Salem Lakhreibani Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation, expressed his satisfaction with the commencement of the eighth edition of the championship, which began in 2017 with just 50 participants and has grown steadily over the years to reach 350 players from 60 nations in the current edition.
He remarked, 'The championship remains highly competitive and open to various outcomes. Sharjah has consistently demonstrated excellence in organizing this event with professionalism and distinction. The UAE Chess Federation remains committed to elevating the status of chess within the country, and this tournament serves as a global platform for intellectual competition and creative excellence among participants.'
He further added, 'The presence of elite grandmasters across the various categories offers an invaluable opportunity for UAE players to engage, learn, and develop their skills, enhancing their capacity to compete at the highest levels.'
He concluded by saying, 'The championship also contributes significantly to promoting the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah, not only through the participation of players from 60 nationalities but also through the global broadcast of the event. The generous prize fund has undoubtedly played a role in attracting top players, thereby elevating the tournament's global standing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
7 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Latif wary of Pakistan form ahead of Asia Cup clash against arch-rivals India
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes Pakistan will face a formidable task when they take on arch-rivals India in their much-anticipated Asia Cup clash on Sept.14. In a candid chat with IANS, Latif admitted that the Men in Green have been far from their best in recent outings and will need a dramatic turnaround in both execution and temperament. 'It will be very tough for Pakistan to play against a strong Indian side on Sept.14. Asia Cup ho jaye bas,' Latif quipped, hinting that given Pakistan's current uncertainty in form, he is simply hoping the tournament goes ahead smoothly. The former wicket-keeper batter highlighted Pakistan's inconsistent performances in recent months, which have led to mounting scrutiny of the team's preparations. 'Humari cricket hawa may chal rahi hai... We lost to Bangladesh and the West Indies — matches we should never have lost. Our captain might be good, but juggling all three formats is not easy. We have talent, but we are not making the right decisions yet,' he observed. Pakistan, regarded as a dangerous side when in rhythm, have suffered a string of surprise defeats — including against Bangladesh and a second-string West Indies outfit — raising questions over their readiness for a high-pressure tournament like the Asia Cup. They open their campaign against Oman on September 12, before facing India in a blockbuster group-stage contest in the UAE. 'There is talent, but execution and decision-making are the most essential things, especially against a team like India,' Latif said, adding that Pakistan must learn to handle crunch situations better if they are to challenge the Men in Blue. With the India-Pakistan rivalry captivating fans across the globe, Latif hopes Pakistan can rediscover momentum in time. However, he cautioned that their current form remains a significant concern as the countdown to the heavyweight clash gathers pace. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been confirmed as official host cities for 2025 Men's T20 Asia Cup, set to happen from Sept. 9 to 28. Dubai will host 11 games, including the final, while Abu Dhabi will host eight matches. India will play their Group A games against UAE and the high-stakes clash against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sept. 10 and 14 respectively, while their clash against Oman is slated to happen at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 19. 'The Asia Cup is more than just a tournament, it's a celebration of Asian cricket. Hosting it in the UAE allows us to bring the excitement to one of the most vibrant cricketing hubs in the world. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are well equipped to deliver a seamless and world- class experience for players, fans, and broadcasters alike.' 'We are confident that the 2025 edition will not only set new standards for excellence but also deepen the connection between the game and millions of passionate supporters across the continent,' said Mohsin Naqvi, President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in a statement. India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman are placed in Group A, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. It's also the first time Asia Cup, to be held in the T20I format keeping in mind the preparation of teams for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, will have eight teams. Top two teams from each group will proceed to the Super Fours stage, with the top two facing each other in the title clash to decide the winner of the 17th edition of the Asia Cup, which kicks off with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong China. While India are the designated host of the Asia Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will stage the tournament in the UAE due to the mutual agreement between them and Pakistan to play at neutral venues in 2027 owing to the geopolitical and diplomatic tensions between the two nations. India are the defending champions of the Asia Cup, having beaten Sri Lanka in the 2023 final held in the 50-over format in Colombo. Sri Lanka had won the Asia Cup in the T20I version after beating Pakistan in the final in 2022. Agencies
Dubai Eye
18 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
India hail Gill and his 'Supermen' after Oval heist
An euphoric India heaped praises on Shubman Gill and his men after they pulled off an edge-of-the-seat thriller at the Oval on Monday to split an all-time classic series with England. Odds were stacked against India in their first Test series under Gill, who inherited a team depleted by the retirement of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli - two men who preceded him in that role. As if the gaping holes in their batting order were not bad enough, veteran seamer Mohammed Shami was deemed unfit for the tour, while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was available only for three of the five Tests as part of his workload management. Gill and his men went on to record memorable victories at Edgbaston and the Oval to secure a 2-2 series draw and assure their legions of fans that the future of Indian cricket was in safe hands. The indefatigable Mohammed Siraj led their lion-hearted bowling afford in the series finale to script a six-run victory amid high drama. Batting great Sachin Tendulkar led tributes to the team and said the quality of cricket on offer was "absolute goosebumps". "Series 2–2, Performance 10/10! SUPERMEN from INDIA! What a win," the former India captain wrote on X. England needed 35 runs on Monday to secure a 3-1 series win with four wickets in hand but Siraj struck three times to secure a famous victory for his team. "In a nail-biting, riveting hour of cricket at England's oldest test match ground, in characteristically cloudy Olde Blighty weather, India pulled off a historic heist," the Hindustan Times newspaper wrote. An Indian Express headline read "Miracles Do Happen" and the newspaper explained how Gill had stepped up as captain of a 'gun team'. The Hindu waxed eloquent on the "Mission accomplished". "After 25 days of riveting action, the best was saved for the last as Shubman Gil's men rode Mohammed Siraj's sensational spell to pull off a remarkable victory," it said. "It was a litmus test for an Indian team in transition but the young side showed heart and character as it fought back from tough situations to share the honours."
Int'l Cricket Council
a day ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Five questions India must answer ahead of next WTC27 challenge ICC World Test Championship
India don't have to wait too long for their next Test contest, with Shubman Gill's side heading home for a pair of two-match series against the West Indies and South Africa across October and November. The two-time World Test Championship runners up will be targeting maximum points across those four home clashes and we look at five burning questions the side must answer prior to their next Test match-up. The plan to only play Jasprit Bumrah in three Tests in England was somewhat vindicated by the 2-2 scoreline and the performances of fellow pacer Mohammed Siraj across the five matches and India will be keeping a close eye on the fitness of their pace spearhead going forward. Based on what happened in England it is unlikely to expect Bumrah to play all four home Tests later this year, especially with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on the horizon early in 2026 . Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair both got opportunities to make the No.3 spot their own during the England tour, but neither player really took advantage of the chance with the pair struggling to come to grips with England's pace attack. One of this duo will likely get another opportunity against the West Indies in October and India will be keen for someone to put their hand up and really make the spot their own. With conditions on the sub-continent likely to be vastly different to what the sides encountered in England, India will almost certainly include left-arm tweaker Kuldeep Yadav for their home contests against the West Indies and South Africa. Kuldeep was very close to playing in England, with veteran Ravindra Jadeja and all-rounder Washington Sundar instead included and the pair performed admirably across the series with seven wickets apiece. While Jadeja is a certain starter in any India Test XI at the moment, it will be interesting to see whether selectors continue to provide Washington Sundar opportunities in the same team and whether Nitish Kumar Reddy will also get a chance. Washington and Reddy are future stars of Indian cricket and Jadeja is much closer to the end of his career than the start, so expect more chances for the fringe all-rounders. The right-armer stepped up when needed most for India across the five-match series in England and will be full of confidence heading home ahead of red-ball contests with the West Indies and South Africa. It will be tough for Siraj to match his efforts in England, especially when you consider the 31-year-old has a much better Test bowling average away from home than what he does in India. Siraj doesn't need to be a match-winner in every game he plays though and can thrive in all conditions. ICC World Test ChampionshipICC World Test Championship, 2025/27News
