08-05-2025
Salem Abdulrahman, Rawda Al Serkal Triumph at Asian Chess Masters
Key match outcomes
Salem Abdulrahman defeated Indonesian player Tarijan Gilbert, while Rawda Al Serkal secured a win over Omani national team member Anat bint Ali Al Eisaiya.
Imran Al Hosani drew with Russian player Alexei Goganov, and Rashid Al Hammadi drew with India's Mainak Chakarpourki.
Omar Noman lost to Iran's Movahed Sina. On the women's side, Zainab Darwish Al Maamari lost to Russia's Katerina Dontoshenko, and Maryam Issa was defeated by Russia's Margita Potapova.
Top-seeded Indian player Nihal Sarin drew with Philippines' Bailu Perspina.
Tournament overview
The championship, held from May 7 to 16, includes 600 players from 38 countries. It is organized by the UAE Chess Federation and Al Ain Chess Club under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and under the supervision of the International and Asian Chess Federations.
Educational and cultural events
The event also features educational lectures such as "Chess for All" and "Artificial Intelligence," along with organized visits to Al Ain's tourist attractions, promoting both learning and cultural exchange.
Refereeing and administration
International referee Jokabumar leads the officiating team, supported by Salman Al Taher as Deputy Chief Referee for the Men's Division and Moza Al Maamari for the Women's Division.
Moza Al Maamari described the event as a significant milestone in her refereeing journey, outlining her responsibilities, which include ensuring match readiness, rule enforcement, fair play, and referee coordination.
Distinguished attendees
The tournament welcomed several notable figures, including Hisham Al Taher, Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation, and Denis Kraev, President of the Intellect International Chess Academy.
