7th Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy International Blitz Chess Tournament for Ladies to promote connection, inclusion, empowerment
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and the Mother of the Nation, and the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, and Chairwoman of both the Abu Dhabi Ladies Club and the Al Ain Ladies Club, The Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy will host the 7th edition of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy International Blitz Chess Tournament.Held on April 12, 2025, at the academy's premises in Abu Dhabi, the tournament will follow the Swiss system and consist of seven rapid rounds.Reflecting FBMA's strategic commitment to promoting chess as a tool for connection, inclusion, and empowerment, this edition of the tournament underscores the values of unity and social cohesion championed by the Year of Community. With a total of Dh40,000 in cash prizes, along with trophies and medals across various categories, the championship continues to serve as a platform for nurturing talent and building community through sport.The tournament is held in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club, and sponsored by success partners E&, Global Care Hospital and Al Ain Water.Talal Mustafa Al Hashemi, Board Member at the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, emphasised the importance of this annual championship in encouraging wider community engagement and supporting diverse talents, he said: 'We are proud to witness continued enthusiasm and growth in participation across all age groups and categories. The tournament stands as a testament to the academy's sustained efforts over the past seven years in fostering a strong, inclusive chess culture in the UAE.'The tournament will feature several categories, including the Ladies' category, the Girls' category (consisting of ages 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18), the Boys' category (consisting of ages 8, 10, and 12) and the category for People of Determination.This year, the 7th edition of the tournament emphasises the participation of People of Determination (PoD) and youth players, in line with the Year of Community's focus on empowering all segments of society and fostering stronger connections through inclusive platforms.
Continuing its legacy, the championship affirms FBMA's unwavering support for chess development in the UAE and beyond building a platform that empowers future generations through sport, strategy, and shared passion.
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
21 hours ago
- Gulf Today
England seek revenge against Spain as rivals meet in Euro final
England are aiming to retain their title and avenge defeat at the hands of Aitana Bonmati's Spain in the Women's World Cup final of two years ago when the rivals meet again on Sunday to decide who will win Euro 2025. The showdown at St Jakob-Park in the Swiss city of Basel promises to be a fascinating contest between a Spain side looking to add the continental crown to their world title, and an England team who can secure back-to-back European Championship victories, and make up for the heartache of 2023 in the process. Spain beat England 1-0 in Sydney to win the World Cup for the first time, with Olga Carmona scoring the only goal -- another victory for La Roja on Sunday would cement their status as the dominant force in women's international football. 'We have so much respect for them and the quality they have, but we also believe in ourselves, that we can really step up,' said England's Ella Toone on Friday. Toone, 25, scored the first goal for the Lionesses when they beat Germany 2-1 after extra time at Wembley to win the last Women's Euros three years ago, and has played a key role in Switzerland on their run to a third straight major tournament final. 'It is amazing. To make three consecutive finals for England is something that we can all be so proud of,' she said at the team's base in Zurich. That remarkable run has come under the management of Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch coach who took charge in 2021 and immediately turned them into contenders. 'She is a great manager, someone we all have a lot of belief in and we know we are in good hands. It is an unbelievable achievement for her,' added Toone of Wiegman, who also won the Euros with her native Netherlands in 2017. It has not been an easy road to the final for England this time, with the Lionesses coming back from the brink of elimination more than once. Their title defence started with a 2-1 defeat by France in their opening group game three weeks ago. The Lionesses recovered to reach the knockout stages by hammering the Netherlands and Wales, but then required a remarkable comeback from two goals down to eventually beat Sweden on penalties in the quarter-finals. They then trailed to Italy in the semi-finals in Geneva until a 96th-minute goal by Michelle Agyemang forced extra time, and Chloe Kelly scored the winner just as another shoot-out loomed. 'The belief in the squad, the resilience and the togetherness in this group is just so special,' said Kelly, who has made a big impact from the bench in the last two rounds. But it remains to be seen if that resilience will be enough against a brilliant Spain side led by reigning Ballon d'Or Bonmati. The Barcelona midfielder -- who was in hospital with viral meningitis just before the tournament started -- scored the extra-time winner as Spain edged Germany in the last four to reach a first ever European Championship final. 'All the hard work we have put in has paid off,' said coach Montse Tome, who took over from Jorge Vilda following the 2023 World Cup triumph. Spain could have as many as seven starters on Sunday who featured in that game in Sydney, including Alexia Putellas -- she was only a bit-part player at the World Cup as she recovered from a knee injury, but Bonmati's predecessor as Ballon d'Or winner has been much more influential here. The theme of revenge could also apply to the Spaniards, who were knocked out of the last Euros by England, going down in extra time in the quarter-finals. Just two months ago an Arsenal side featuring several members of Wiegman's current England squad defeated Barcelona in the final of the Women's Champions League. Seven of the players who started for Barcelona that day in Lisbon are likely to start for Spain on Sunday, including Bonmati and Putellas. If they come out on top they will be the first nation to win the Women's World Cup and Euros back-to-back since Germany in 2007 and 2009, and they can also follow in the footsteps of their men's counterparts -- Spain beat England in the final of the men's Euro last year. Agencies
Campaign ME
2 days ago
- Campaign ME
Esports World Cup launches game-first social channel: EWC_Extra
The Esports World Cup Foundation has launched EWC_Extra, a dedicated social channel on X and Instagram to focus on real-time coverage, community reactions and key moments from inside the arena. Built for the most passionate community across EWC's 25 tournaments, EWC_Extra is the home of play-by-play content – from tournament upsets and MVP performances to memes, creator posts and behind-the-scenes access, capturing the competition match by match. EWC_Extra joins the EWC's main channel to form a two-part content ecosystem that reflects the scale of the world's biggest esports event. While the main channel delivers human stories and cultural context, including players, teams, fans, talent and entertainment, EWC_Extra stays focused on the tournament action itself: fast, direct and esports-first. Running through August 24, Esports World Cup 2025 brings together 2,000 players and 200 Clubs to compete in 25 tournaments across 24 games, for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool. Backed by global icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen, and broadcast in 140 countries with over 7,000 hours of live content, EWC 2025 is redefining how competitive gaming is produced and experienced. Two weeks into the Esports World Cup 2025, eight Champions have been crowned and the stage has seen major upsets and dominant runs. Gen.G continued their historic streak to take the League of Legends title, Heretics won VALORANT in a dramatic reverse sweep, VK claimed Apex Legends with a final-game victory, and Redline defended their Rennsport title. GO1 delivered a shock win over favourite Xiao Hai in Fatal Fury, while Team Spirit dropped just one game on their way to the Dota 2 crown. Team Vitality went unbeaten to take the MLBB Women's Invitational. EVOS Esports triumphed in Free Fire, with 15-year-old wonderkid Rasyah securing the tournament MVP award. With more games, venues and storytelling than ever before, demand for real-time content has never been higher. In the first week alone, impressions have grown 167 per cent, video views are up 267 per cent, and fan engagement continues to rise across all channels.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Hamdan launches ‘Dubai Mallathon' to transform shopping malls into fitness hubs
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, on Thursday launched Dubai Mallathon, a community-driven initiative aimed at promoting public health by encouraging all members of society to engage in daily physical activity during the summer. The initiative is set to transform shopping malls across Dubai into organised health and fitness tracks during morning hours, from 7:00 to 10:00am, from Aug.1 to 31. As part of the initiative, dedicated walking and running tracks will be introduced in seven of Dubai's major shopping destinations, including Dubai Mall, Dubai Hills Mall, Springs Souk, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, Mall of the Emirates, and Dubai Marina Mall. Dubai Mallathon is aligned with the goals of the Year of Community, the Dubai Social Agenda 33, and Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 33, which aim to provide the highest standards of living, residential services, and cultural and sporting events while celebrating the UAE's cultural, architectural and environmental heritage. Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai seeks to set new global benchmarks in wellbeing by making fitness an integral part of daily life. Through meaningful initiatives that bring the community together, the city aims to foster a sense of connection, encourage healthier lifestyles, and create a more vibrant, supportive social life, he added. "With the Dubai Mallathon, we're turning familiar spaces into places that inspire movement, connection, and better habits. "We want everyone in Dubai to feel they can stay active and energised in welcoming spaces built with their needs in mind. This reflects our broader commitment to placing people and families at the heart of our development plans.' He encouraged the public to take part in the Dubai Mallathon, describing it as a simple and accessible way to embrace healthier habits and engage with the community."Every step you take moves us closer towards a healthier Dubai,' he said. "This is a shared journey. We are all partners in transforming our city into the world's best place to live, work, and visit.' Sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and held in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Mallathon initiative targets all segments of society, including youth, senior citizens, residents, children, and shopping mall to foster an active lifestyle in a supportive setting, the initiative incorporates motivational tools such as fitness-tracking systems, health awareness stations, dedicated children's areas, and guided stretching exercises. This community-driven experience not only encourages participation but also raises awareness about the importance of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Dubai Mallathon also seeks to make the most of the vast, underutilised indoor spaces in major malls by transforming them into safe and dynamic sporting environments. This approach offers a practical solution to the challenges of summer heat. With air-conditioned spaces and advanced infrastructure, shopping malls provide an ideal setting for exercise, removing the barrier of extreme heat and encouraging residents to maintain their physical fitness year-round. The initiative also features the 'Walk for Better Health' programme, organised by Dubai's Community Development Authority in collaboration with malls in the emirate. Participation in Dubai Mallathon is free of charge and can be completed by registering through the official website: Upon registration, participants will receive a digital card confirming their enrolment in the initiative. Dubai Mallathon also features collaborations with restaurants and retail outlets, which will offer special deals that align with the initiative's goals of promoting a balanced and active lifestyle, encouraging better nutritional choices and supporting individuals in adopting long-term, sustainable healthy habits. WAM
