Stage set for 8th Sharjah Chess Masters C'ship
The prestigious 8th Sharjah International Chess Masters Championship is set to take place from Saturday to May 26.
To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, this highly anticipated event once again positions Sharjah as a key global hub for competitive chess.
This year's championship will feature a remarkable turnout of 350 players representing 60 countries, highlighting the event's strong international appeal and diverse competitive field.
Participants range from rising stars and national champions to seasoned grandmasters, all competing for top honors and valuable FIDE rating points.
Sheikh Dr. Khaled bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club and President of the Arab Chess Federation, emphasized the tournament's significant global importance, particularly as it is officially accredited by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
He noted that participants earn valuable points toward qualification for the Chess World Cup, which has greatly encouraged player participation. The registration process saw exceptionally high demand.
He added, 'Initially, we expected around 260 players to participate, but due to the overwhelming turnout, we increased the number of participants. Even so, the waiting list remains very large. The presence of numerous titled players in the tournament enhances its competitive level and elevates its international prestige.'
The top seed is World No. 6, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov. He is joined by fellow 2700+ rated grandmasters GM Anish Giri and GM Parham Maghsoodloo.
The field also includes fifteen players rated above 2600, such as GM Sam Sevian, GM Amin Tabatabaei, European champion GM Aleksandar Indjic, local favorite GM Salem Saleh, GM Leon Luke Mendonca, and GM Niko Theodorou.
Rounding out the lineup are another 60 highly skilled and promising players, including GM Zhu Jiner—who recently dominated the FIDE Women's Grand Prix—rising star IM Faustino Oro, US prodigy GM Andy Woodward, and last year's Sharjah Challengers champion, IM Divya Deshmukh.
Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman, a member of the UAE national chess team and a player for the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, will lead the UAE contingent in the tournament, which will see full participation from the national team.
Among them are Woman Grandmaster Rouda Al Serkal, Arab Champion and player for the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club and the national team, as well as Omar Nouman, Omran Al Hosani, Ibrahim Sultan, and several other national team members. Additionally, a large number of players from chess clubs across the UAE will take part in the event.
The organizing committee of the Sharjah International Chess Masters Championship, also increased in the prize fund for the tournament's eighth edition.
This year's edition will feature a total prize pool of $75,000.
Tournament Director Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi explained that the prize increase was prompted by the introduction of three competitive divisions: the main event for players rated above 2500, a second division for those rated below 2500, and a third division for players rated around 1400.
Ensuring fairness and smooth conduct throughout the championship is a panel of 15 internationally accredited arbiters, led by FIDE official Faisal Al Hammadi in his role as Head Arbiter. He will be supported by Deputy Arbiter Salman Al Taher, both renowned for their expertise and dedication to upholding the highest standards of chess officiating.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
16 hours ago
- 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
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
FIFA's inaugural Club World Cup set to kick off in the US amid challenges
FIFA's billion-dollar gamble to revolutionise club football begins a week on Sunday with plenty of cash up for grabs but questionable enthusiasm as 32 teams prepare to contest the expanded Club World Cup in 12 stadiums across the US. The tournament - designed as a glittering showcase ahead of the 2026 World Cup - has had to contend with the prospect of empty seats along with controversial qualification rules and player welfare concerns after an exhausting European season. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami face Egypt's Al Ahly in the opening fixture on June 15 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, with tickets still widely available days before kickoff. A glance at FIFA's website shows lots of tickets available, including for the July 13 final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. Messi's presence underscores the tournament's contentious foundations. Inter Miami gained entry by topping Major League Soccer's regular season standings, despite losing in the first round of the playoffs - a decision critics say shows FIFA's desperation to have the Argentina great at their inaugural showpiece. FIFA's decision to give the host nation a spot and award it to Inter Miami underlined the opaque nature of the qualifying criteria for the tournament, which won't feature Liverpool, Barcelona or Napoli who have all just been crowned champions of three of the most prestigious leagues in Europe. Apart from the winners of each confederation's premier club competitions, teams qualified according to a ranking based on their performances over a four-year period. Reuters
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
Accidental 'double touch' penalties to be retaken if successful
London (PA Media/dpa) Accidental 'double touch' penalty kicks will be able to be retaken from July 1 if the kick was successful, the game's lawmakers have said. European football's governing body UEFA asked for the laws concerning these rare instances to be reviewed after Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez had a spot-kick disallowed in a shoot-out against Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 in March. The Argentinian slipped and his standing leg made slight contact with the ball. Real went on to win the shoot-out. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which sets the sport's laws, has now issued a clarification to Law 14. The law does not directly cover what to do in the event of an accidental double touch, and the IFAB said referees had "understandably" been penalising all such touches up to this point. However, the IFAB said Law 14's primary purpose was to deal with deliberate double touches and a clarification has now been issued to all national associations and confederations. The IFAB acknowledges it would be unfair not to penalise a double touch at all and allow such kicks to stand as a goal, because goalkeepers can be disadvantaged by the altered trajectory of the ball. However, it has now clarified that where an accidental 'double touch' kick is scored, it should be retaken. Where such kicks are unsuccessful, they should either result in an indirect free-kick if they occur during a match, or recorded as missed if they occur in a shoot-out.
