
Qatar Rail Open Chess 2025: Bologan Victor emerges winner
Doha
Qatar Rail in collaboration with the Qatar Chess Association, honoured the winners of the 3rd edition of Qatar Rail Open Chess 2025 held from July 17-20 in conjunction with the celebration of World Chess Day, which is marked annually on July 20.
The tournament aligned with Qatar Rail's social responsibility strategy, which aims organize and host engaging community activities and initiatives that foster engagement and build a stronger sense of community within the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks.
The tournament attracted a large number of participants and witnessed strong competition among many professional and amateur chess players of various ages and nationalities.
The qualifying stage took place on July 17 at the Qatar Chess Training Center, where participants were divided into two groups and competed under a knockout system to determine the finalists.
The final stage of the tournament was hosted at Al Bidda Station of Doha Metro on July 20, which witnessed thrilling matches between the qualified players, followed by an award ceremony recognizing the winners.
Bologan Victor claimed first place with a total of 7.5 points, edging out syed Abdul khader—who secured second place with the same score—based on tiebreak criteria.
Zhu Chen finished in third place with 7 points, while Johan Jobsy secured fourth place with 6 points, ahead of Abel Sajan, who ranked fifth with 5.5 points.
In addition, and in recognition of the active role played by Qatar Rail in supporting the sport of chess in Qatar and its contribution to creating a positive impact in the community, the company was honoured by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) with a Certificate of Appreciation under the FIDE Social Chess Award 2025 for its distinguished efforts.
The certificate was received on behalf of Qatar Rail by Abdulla Ali Al Mawlawi, Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations.
On the occasion, Al Mawlawi, said, 'For the third consecutive year, Qatar Rail has successfully organized another edition of the Qatar Rail Open Chess Tournament in partnership with the Qatar Chess Federation. We are pleased with the level of participation, engagement, and positive feedback the tournament has received. What truly distinguishes this year's edition is the recognition Qatar Rail received from the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which we deeply value and consider a drive to continue supporting this sport and nurturing local talent in the State of Qatar.'
He added: 'Hosting the tournament finals at Al Bidda Station on the Doha Metro supports our strategy to amplify the role of Doha Metro and Lusail Tram in our community, while also highlighting the stations' potential as vibrant venues for various community events. These stations are becoming community hubs that attract diverse audiences and add a new social dimension to public transport. We remain committed to building long-lasting partnerships with community-based institutions to host more community-focused events at our stations.
Mohammed Al Madhahka, President of Qatar Chess Association, said: 'We highly value the fruitful cooperation with Qatar Rail and thank them for their continued support in promoting chess culture and encouraging individuals to engage in the game. Through our successful partnership for the third year in a row, we were delighted to organize a successful edition of the Qatar Rail Chess Open. The atmosphere of the third edition was exciting, with many talents participating and strong competition throughout the tournament stages.'
Qatar Rail continues to work closely with various stakeholders in the country to launch and adopt a wide range of community initiatives that enhance engagement and social interaction. These initiatives aim to create an inspiring and interactive environment that promotes learning, entertainment, and communication within the metro and tram networks, while also ensuring reliable travel experiences for Qatar's residents and visitors throughout the year.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Rail Open Chess 2025: Bologan Victor emerges winner
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Rail in collaboration with the Qatar Chess Association, honoured the winners of the 3rd edition of Qatar Rail Open Chess 2025 held from July 17-20 in conjunction with the celebration of World Chess Day, which is marked annually on July 20. The tournament aligned with Qatar Rail's social responsibility strategy, which aims organize and host engaging community activities and initiatives that foster engagement and build a stronger sense of community within the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks. The tournament attracted a large number of participants and witnessed strong competition among many professional and amateur chess players of various ages and nationalities. The qualifying stage took place on July 17 at the Qatar Chess Training Center, where participants were divided into two groups and competed under a knockout system to determine the finalists. The final stage of the tournament was hosted at Al Bidda Station of Doha Metro on July 20, which witnessed thrilling matches between the qualified players, followed by an award ceremony recognizing the winners. Bologan Victor claimed first place with a total of 7.5 points, edging out syed Abdul khader—who secured second place with the same score—based on tiebreak criteria. Zhu Chen finished in third place with 7 points, while Johan Jobsy secured fourth place with 6 points, ahead of Abel Sajan, who ranked fifth with 5.5 points. In addition, and in recognition of the active role played by Qatar Rail in supporting the sport of chess in Qatar and its contribution to creating a positive impact in the community, the company was honoured by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) with a Certificate of Appreciation under the FIDE Social Chess Award 2025 for its distinguished efforts. The certificate was received on behalf of Qatar Rail by Abdulla Ali Al Mawlawi, Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations. On the occasion, Al Mawlawi, said, 'For the third consecutive year, Qatar Rail has successfully organized another edition of the Qatar Rail Open Chess Tournament in partnership with the Qatar Chess Federation. We are pleased with the level of participation, engagement, and positive feedback the tournament has received. What truly distinguishes this year's edition is the recognition Qatar Rail received from the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which we deeply value and consider a drive to continue supporting this sport and nurturing local talent in the State of Qatar.' He added: 'Hosting the tournament finals at Al Bidda Station on the Doha Metro supports our strategy to amplify the role of Doha Metro and Lusail Tram in our community, while also highlighting the stations' potential as vibrant venues for various community events. These stations are becoming community hubs that attract diverse audiences and add a new social dimension to public transport. We remain committed to building long-lasting partnerships with community-based institutions to host more community-focused events at our stations. Mohammed Al Madhahka, President of Qatar Chess Association, said: 'We highly value the fruitful cooperation with Qatar Rail and thank them for their continued support in promoting chess culture and encouraging individuals to engage in the game. Through our successful partnership for the third year in a row, we were delighted to organize a successful edition of the Qatar Rail Chess Open. The atmosphere of the third edition was exciting, with many talents participating and strong competition throughout the tournament stages.' Qatar Rail continues to work closely with various stakeholders in the country to launch and adopt a wide range of community initiatives that enhance engagement and social interaction. These initiatives aim to create an inspiring and interactive environment that promotes learning, entertainment, and communication within the metro and tram networks, while also ensuring reliable travel experiences for Qatar's residents and visitors throughout the year.


Qatar Tribune
16-07-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Stage set for third edition of Qatar Rail Open Chess
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Chess Association (QCA) has announced details of the 3rd edition of Qatar Rail Open Chess Championship 2025, organized in cooperation with Qatar Rail. The tournament coincides with World Chess Day, which falls on July 20 every year. The preliminary rounds will begin tomorrow, Thursday, at the Qatar Chess Training Center, with the participation of 100 players. The competition will be held in a nine-round blitz format to determine the players who will advance to the final stage. The final rounds of the tournament will be held on Sunday at the Al Bidda Station of Doha Metro. Twenty players will participate in the nine-round Swiss system. QCA said it has made all arrangements for smooth start of the competition tomorrow, putting the final touches on the selection of arbiters who will oversee the competitions. QCA President Mohammed Al Mudahka praised the continuation of the tournament for a third consecutive year, appreciating the cooperation between QCA and Qatar Rail, which aims to achieve several goals, most notably spreading the culture of chess in society. He expressed his aspiration for further cooperation that would help QCA achieve its vision of developing the game by building a strong base for it. He explained that the tournament is witnessing participation of a large number of national team players, emphasizing that the tournament aims to see new players emerge who will support the national teams in future. He also emphasized that the tournament is part of QCA's plans to bring about a qualitative shift in the game and attract talent. He added that the tournament represents a valuable opportunity to discover more promising talent for inclusion in the coming period, expanding the selection of the best players to represent Qatari chess in international tournaments. For his part, Abdullah Ali Al Mawlawi, Head of Communications and Public Relations at Qatar Rail, expressed his pleasure in partnering with the Qatar Chess Association in organizing the event following the success achieved in the first two editions. 'Our sponsorship of the championship falls within our commitment to promoting community and sporting activities, spreading the culture of chess, and encouraging local talent in this sport,' he said. 'We look forward to hosting the finals of this championship at the Al Bidda Station of Doha Metro, which in turn supports our strategy to enhance the position of the Doha Metro network and the Lusail Tram, transforming them into preferred destinations for hosting various community events throughout the year.'


Qatar Tribune
23-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Rail confirms Doha Metro ready for Amir Cup final fans
DOHA: Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has announced that the Doha Metro is fully prepared to welcome and transport fans attending the 2025 Amir Cup Final, which will bring together Al Rayyan and Al-Gharafa teams at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday. Fans of both teams can directly access Khalifa International Stadium via Sport City Station on the Gold Line of the Metro, which is within walking distance of the stadium. As part of its preparations to facilitate the movement of fans and visitors on match day, Qatar Rail will implement a station crowd management plan at Sport City until the end of the Metro service. On match day, while Doha Metro and Lusail Tram services will run according to the regular schedule, several changes will be made to metrolink and metroexpress services. metrolink route M311 will be shifted to Al Sudan Metro Station (Shelter 1), and route M317 to Al Aziziyah Metro Station (Shelter 2). metroexpress bookings to and from Sport City Station will be disabled, with the area instead served via Al Waab QLM station (Shelter 2). On this occasion, Eng Abdulla Saif Al Sulaiti, Chief of Service Delivery at Qatar Rail, said: 'We look forward to welcoming Al-Gharafa and Al Rayyan fans aboard Doha Metro during the 2025 Amir Cup Final, contributing to an exceptional match-day travel experience." "In coordination with our partners from the relevant entities, we have developed a special operational plan for the event that will ensure smooth and convenient journeys for fans throughout the day," he added. "During the Amir Cup Final, we are fully committed to ensuring seamless crowd movement and prioritizing the safety of all passengers across the network,' Al Sulaiti stressed.